Real Madrid's Champions League hoodoo has finally been broken by borderline perfection.
It has been realized before, in lore, by a team capable of relegating it, and by the club so devastatingly. After years of inexplicable failure, Manchester City finally toppled europe's reigning champions on wednesday, securing a maiden continental title within 90 minutes.
City thrashed Madrid 4–0 in the semi-final of the second leg – further underscoring the Citizens' dominance. Under Pep Guardiola they have come close to mastering modern football over the years; And on Wednesday at the Etihad Stadium, they came closer than ever. With his clockwork speed and technical accuracy and controlled fire, he drove Real Madrid in circles, drawing them from left to right, until Madrid's grip on the trophy loosened. And slowly, over 90 dark minutes, the Kings relented.
The breakthrough came after 22 minutes of sustained pressing, courtesy of Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva.
Confirmation – confirmation that this City team was too good to leave behind – came after 14 minutes, courtesy of Silva.
Real Madrid later put a third into their own net, as if succumbing to the genius, as if accepting that Manchester City at its peak is irrepressible and unstoppable. Because it is, and on Wednesday, it was.