UCL: Man City, Inter edge closer to semi-final with crucial wins over Bayern and Benfica
Manchester City and Inter Milan gave themselves a big boost in their quest for qualification for the UEFA Champions League semi-final stage.
In their first-leg quarterfinal game on Tuesday, Manchester City secured a vital 3-0 victory over Bayern Munich at the Etihad Stadium.
Inter, despite playing away from home, put up a commanding performance; beating Benfica 2-0 at the Estadio Da Luiz.
At the Etihad Stadium, City continued their fiery run which has seen them win nine matches on the bounce.
Rodri opened the scoring in the 27th minute with a well-placed after a couple of missed chances.
The Citizens controlled the game well, with both teams showing glimpses of their attacking prowess.
However, Man City capitalized on their chances, giving them a crucial advantage in this high-stakes encounter.
Erling Haaland, who has been in scintillating form this season, added to his impressive record by providing a delightful assist for Bernardo Silva's goal in the 70th minute.
The Norwegian striker added gloss to the victory with a goal in the 76th minute.
The rivalry between Pep Guardiola and Thomas Tuchel added an extra layer of intrigue to this encounter.
Guardiola, who previously managed Bayern Munich and won multiple titles during his tenure, was eager to outwit his former club and Tuchel, who hasn't been anything superb since taking over at the helm of the German giants.
The tactical battle between the two managers was evident throughout the match, with both teams showcasing their respective strengths.
In the end, Guardiola's City emerged triumphant, giving them the upper hand ahead of the return leg in Munich.
In the other game, two second-half goals from N. Barella and Romelu Lukaku from the penalty spot gave the Italians a big boost going into the second leg.
