UCL: Real Madrid knock out Liverpool as Guardiola’s City reach first semi-final

REAL MADRID got the better of Liverpool once again to advance to the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night.

The Spanish side won their last European title in 2018 after overcoming the English club 3-1 in the final in Kyiv, Ukraine, and they triumphed with a similar scoreline this time.

Having won the first leg 3-1 in Madrid, Zinedine Zidane’s side put up a professional performance at Anfield to hold Liverpool to a 0-0 draw on Wednesday night.

Even without first-choice centre-backs Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane due to Covid-19, Real Madrid defended superbly and restricted Liverpool to only a handful of chances, one of which Mohamed Salah fluffed very early in the game.

In the other quarter-final decided on Wednesday night, Manchester City came from behind to beat Borussia Dortmund and reach their first Champions League semi-final under Pep Guardiola.

City went behind in the first half to a goal by 17-year-old Jude Bellingham but Riyad Mahrez equalised from the penalty spot early in the second half after Emre Can had handled the ball in his own box.

Phil Foden scored late to give Manchester City a 2-1 win on the night and a 4-2 aggregate victory as they finally broke the semi-final jinx for the first time since Guardiola’s arrival in 2016.

Real Madrid will tackle Chelsea in the semi-finals while City will battle Paris Saint-Germain.