Monday. 23.12.2024

Manchester City coasted into the Champions League quarter-finals, beating Borussia Moenchengladbach 2-0 on Tuesday for an aggregate 4-0 success.

Kevin de Bruyne and Ilkay Guendogan ended any doubts about the outcome by scoring inside 20 minutes for an utterly dominant City.

Both games were played in Budapest because of mandatory coronavirus quarantine for people arriving in Germany from Britain.

Record winners Real Madrid also progressed, beating Italy's Atalanta 3-1 on the night and 4-1 from both games thanks to Karim Benzema's 70th goal in the elite event, a penalty from captain Sergio Ramos and substitute Marco Asensio.

Runaway Premier League leaders City were in full control against a Gladbach side which is free-falling with now seven defeats in a row since their coach Marco Rose announced a summer departure to Borussia Dortmund.

Having already lost the first game 2-0 three weeks ago, Gladbach's dim hopes for a comeback ended early with de Bruyne smashing in off the crossbar from 18 metres 12 minutes into the game.

And six minutes later Phil Foden superbly set up Guendogan to slot the second past Yann Sommer.

City have scored 100 or more goals in all competitions an eighth straight season, with a tally of 101, and their manager Pep Guardiola has achieved this milestone every year since 2008-09 with his clubs, according to statisticians Opta.

"The start helps a lot. We were patient in the beginning. When we scored the two goals and had some cover. We controlled the game and we had a few chances," de Bruyne told BT Sport.

Looking at a seventh clean sheet in a row in the competition, the Belgian added: "It's always important when you are stable as a defence and team. Obviously it gives the whole team confidence."

16 March 2021, Spain, Madrid: Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos and teammate Karim Benzema celebrate a goal during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg soccer match between Real Madrid and Atalanta BC at Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano. Photo: Indira/DAX via ZUMA Wire/dpaReal Madrid's Sergio Ramos and teammate Karim Benzema celebrate a goal. Photo: Indira/dpa.

Real Madrid

In Madrid, the tie was effectively over as a contest in the 34th when Atalanta keeper Marco Sportiello's attempted clearance went straight to Real's Luka Modric who fed Benzema for an easy tap-in.

The French forward has five goals in the event this season and joined Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Raul Gonzalez and Robert Lewandowski to score 70 Champions League goals.

Ramos made it 2-0 from the spot on the hour after Rafael Toloi had tripped Vinicius Junior.

Last year's quarter-finalists Atalanta pulled one back from Muriel's curling free-kick with seven minutes left but Asensio restored the two-goal lead in the 85th, three minutes after coming on, as Real made the quarters for the first time since 2018.

The round of 16 is completed on Wednesday when holders Bayern Munich host Lazio 4-1 up and Chelsea take a 1-0 advantage into their game with Atletico Madrid.

Liverpool, Porto, Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain progressed last week into the quarter-finals which along with the semis are drawn on Friday.

Man City and Real Madrid into Champions League quarters