LONDON: Manchester City have reached the Champions League final for the first time. Their opponents on May 29 in Istanbul will be Chelsea or Real Madrid aftet a 4-1 aggregate victory over Paris Saint-Germain.

Two superb goals – one in each half – from winger Riyad Mahrez brought a 2-0 home win to add to the 2-1 success in the French capital last week. PSG finished with 10 men after the expulsion of Angel di Maria 21 minutes from the end.

The attacking brilliance of Pep Guardiola’s side was matched by defensive solidity with starring roles for Ruben Dias, John Stones, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Kyle Walker. Neymar & Co failed to achieve one shot on target.

PSG’s frustrations were summed up by Di Maria’s straight red card for a stamp on Fernandinho.

City are the ninth different English team to reach the Champions final; three more than any other nation (Germany and Italy – 6 sides), and victory will take manager Guardiola to the final for the first time since 2010-11 with Barcelona.

On top of that City have won their last seven UEFA Champions League matches; the longest ever winning run by an English team in Champions Cup history. They are also the first English side to win 11 games in a single European Cup/Champions League campaign.

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