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Fans showered praise on Manchester City superstar Bernardo Silva for his performance against Real Madrid as few even compared him to Lionel Messi. Silva scored a brace in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-finals at the Etihad as City earned a 4-0 win.
Pep Guardiola's side progressed to the final with the triumph. They managed a 5-1 aggregate win on the tie over two legs.
Silva opened the scoring for the hosts in the 23rd minute. City suffocated Real Madrid with tremendous pressure before the goal. After Kevin De Bruyne found the Portuguese inside the area with a great pass, the latter smashed home past Thibaut Courtois in the near post.
Silva doubled his side's advantage in the 37th minute with a headed goal. An own goal from Eder Militao in the second half and a late strike from substitute Julian Alvarez sealed the fate of the game.
The Cityzens are now through to the finals at the expense of last year's champions. They will play Inter Milan at the Ataturk Stadium in Istanbul on June 10.
Silva, apart from his brace, was spectacular during the game. He tormented Eduardo Camavinga in the first half. The 28-year-old also completed three dribbles and 52 passes. He won five ground duels as well.
Fans lauded the player for his sublime performance when the occasion asked for it. One of them wrote on Twitter:
"Bernardo Silva is literally premier League's Lionel Messi. Blud be dropping masterclass upon masterclass."
Another fan opined:
"Bernardo Silva the epitome of a big game player. Please stay forever, we love you so much."
Here are some of the best reactions across Twitter after Bernardo Silva's performance in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-finals between Manchester City and Real Madrid:
Manchester City ace Bernardo Silva equaled a Lionel Messi record
Bernardo Silva became only the third player to score at least two goals in a UEFA Champions League semi-final clash against Real Madrid. Lionel Messi did it in the first leg of the 2010-11 UCL semi-final.
Robert Lewandowski is the other player to do so. The Pole scored four times against Los Blancos in the first-leg semi-final in the 2012-13 season. Silva has now done it this season with his brace.
Manchester City will need their Portuguese magician at his brilliant best when they take on Inter Milan in the semi-final. The Nerazzurri defeated AC Milan by an aggregate of 3-0 over two legs to reach the finals.
