Manchester City's road to the Champions League final
By Max Parsons
They've done it. They've finally done it.
After three consecutive quarter final exits under Pep Guardiola, Manchester City are finally in a Champions League final.
For all the stick they receive about their financial-driven success over the past decade, no one can deny that they have been one of the dominant forces across Europe this campaign. And, on a special occasion for all at the club, the Cityzens will go in as favourites against opponents Chelsea.
It's been an impressive European journey for City this season, with a record of 11 wins and a sole draw - so far - proof enough of their monstrous form leading into the Champions League final. Let's take a look at the 12 matches that got them to this stage.
GROUP STAGE
1. Manchester City 3-1 Porto
Guardiola's men got off to the worst possible start in their European campaign, going 1-0 down to Porto via a Luis Diaz effort inside 14 minutes.
But the Cityzen's showed the grit and determination that has served them well all season by replying four minutes later via a Sergio Aguero spot kick.
Two second half goals through Ilkay Gundogan and Ferran Torres then sealed the three points and got City rolling in the competition.
2. Marseille 0-3 Manchester City
Torres and Gundogan were once more on the scoresheet as City played out their first European away day of the campaign.
The pair scored either side of half time before Raheem Sterling added a late strike to secure a comfortable 3-0 win at Marseille.
3. Manchester City 3-0 Olympiacos
Torres continued his sublime Champions League form with a beautifully crafted opener against Greek side Olympiacos on matchday three.
The Cityzens had to wait a long time before substitutes Gabriel Jesus and Joao Cancelo added late goals to wrap up another 3-0 victory and put the side firmly in the driving seat of Group C.
4. Olympiacos 0-1 Manchester City
Not as convincing, but just as effective.
Guardiola's side registered another three points on matchday four, claiming the double on Olympiacos with a 1-0 win.
Phil Foden got the only goal of the game to claim his first in the Champions League this season, rounding off a simply stunning team move in the first half.
5. Porto 0-0 Manchester City
City dropped their first points in Group C as they travelled to face second-placed Porto on matchday five.
Despite dominating and having 18 shots to Porto's two, Guardiola's men failed to break the deadlock, resulting in an underwhelming 0-0 draw.
The draw did, however, effectively claim top spot in the group stage, courtesy of a superior goal difference over their Portuguese opponents.
6. Manchester City 3-0 Marseille
The Cityzens made sure of their Group C victory on matchday six with a resounding 3-0 beating of Marseille (again).
Torres got his fourth, and last (to date), Champions League goal of the season before Sergio Aguero poached to double the lead. A last minute Alvaro Gonzalez own goal finished the scoring to send City through to the knockout stage with a healthy 16 points from Group C.
ROUND OF 16
7. Borussia Monchengladbach 0-2 Manchester City
City thoroughly dominated Borussia Monchengladbach in the round of 16.
A rare Bernardo Silva header opened the scoring before half time, before the Portuguese assisted Jesus after the hour mark to take a comfortable lead back home (or at least to the Puskas Arena, where Covid-19 had forced the tie to be played).
8. Manchester City 2-0 Borussia Monchengladbach
Gladbach once again failed to trouble Guardiola's side in the second leg, and the Cityzens were able to wrap the tie up early on.
Kevin De Bruyne's 12th minute piledriver was followed up by Gundogan's finish to a free-flowing, Foden-led, move in the 18th minute to seal a place in the quarter final for the fourth straight season.
QUARTER FINAL
9. Manchester City 2-1 Borussia Dortmund
Despite 17-year old Jude Bellingham stealing the headlines for his sensational individual performance, it was City who grabbed a vital first leg win when they met Borussia Dortmund in early April.
An 84th minute Marco Reus goal cancelled out De Bruyne's earlier effort and looked to be giving Dortmund an invaluable result heading into the second leg.
Step forward Phil Foden.
The 20-year old finished off Gundogan's cut back with precision to steal the win in stoppage time, and give his side the advantage.
10. Borussia Dortmund 1-2 Manchester City
Bellingham followed up his unbelievable performance in the first leg with another in the second, The teenager managed to open the scoring early on to give the tie an almost tangible tension throughout.
Guardiola's side held their nerve, however, and pulled ahead on aggregate once more through Riyad Mahrez's 55th minute penalty.
Foden then provided yet more heroics with a late effort from outside the area to wrap it all up and send City to their first semi final under Guardiola.
SEMI FINAL
11. PSG 1-2 Manchester City
It looked as though there would be more Champions League heartbreak for the Cityzens when Marquinhos headed Paris Saint Germain ahead in an utterly dominant first half from the hosts.
A steely second half display and an abundance of quality turned the tie on its head after the break, however. De Bruyne equalised with 25 minutes remaining, before semi-final hero Mahrez converted a free kick to take a huge lead back to the Etihad for the second leg.
12. Manchester City 2-0 PSG
Mahrez settled the nerves early on when he pounced to make it 1-0 in the 11th minute, and secured one of the most famous wins in Manchester City history by thumping Foden's cut back into the roof of the net on 63 minutes.
His brace gave City an aggregate win of 4-1 over Mauricio Pochettino's superstar-studded PSG side and sent the club to their first ever Champions League final.