{"id":4225,"date":"2024-04-18T14:27:03","date_gmt":"2024-04-18T14:27:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/?p=4225"},"modified":"2024-04-18T14:27:03","modified_gmt":"2024-04-18T14:27:03","slug":"paul-merson-slams-embarrassing-real-madrid-despite-win-over-man-city-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/?p=4225","title":{"rendered":"Paul Merson slams ’embarrassing’ Real Madrid despite win over Man City | Football"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\"Manchester\n<\/div>

Man City\u2019s hopes of back-to-back Champions League titles are over after defeat to Real Madrid (Photo: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Real Madrid have been likened to Luton by Paul Merson after Manchester City \u2019embarrassed\u2019 them in the Champions League.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s despite Real being the ones who advance to the semi-finals of the competition after victory at the Etihad on penalties on Wednesday night.<\/p>\n

After an end-to-end 3-3 draw in Spain last week, the second-leg of this quarter-final tie was far more cagey, finishing 1-1 after extra-time.<\/p>\n

City dominated possession and had more shots on target (nine) than Real had shots (eight), but Los Blancos \u2013 renowned as Champions League specialists \u2013 held on and won the shootout 4-3 after Bernardo Silva and Mateo Kovacic missed their spot-kicks.<\/p>\n

Real\u2019s tactics earned the ire of City star Rodri, who said \u2018only one team were playing\u2019, and Arsenal legend Merson wasn\u2019t impressed either, telling Sky Sports: \u2018Last night\u2019s game was embarrassing.<\/p>\n

\u2018Man City did to Real Madrid what they did to Luton.<\/p>\n

\u2018For anybody watching that game, it was mind blowing. It was pure luck that Real got past City. They absolutely destroyed them. They embarrassed them.<\/p>\n

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Real Madrid are favourites to win a record-extending 15th Champions League title (Photo: David Blunsden\/Action Plus\/Shutt)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018It was one of the most one-sided games I\u2019ve ever seen, and City were just bang out of luck losing on penalties.<\/p>\n

\u2018Real Madrid cannot come away from that game and think they are a better team than Man City. They are a million miles behind them.\u2019<\/p>\n

With Arsenal also losing to Bayern Munich, there are no English teams left in the Champions League, while Liverpool and West Ham are expected to be knocked out of the Europa League on Thursday having lost the first-leg of their ties.<\/p>\n

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\n\"Arsenal\n<\/div>
Arsenal have also been knocked out of the Champions League by Bayern Munich (Photo: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It would seem that English hopes in Europe all rest on Aston Villa who are only 2-1 up against Lille in their Europa Conference League quarter-final tie.<\/p>\n

It is surprising to see the Premier League sides struggle so much after years of success on the continent, though Merson blames it on the quality of the league compared to others and the intensity of the title race.<\/p>\n

\u2018I don\u2019t want to make excuses for the teams. Arsenal didn\u2019t turn up. They weren\u2019t great. Man City destroyed Real but the luck wasn\u2019t on their side,\u2019 he added<\/p>\n