'They are monsters!': European papers hail Man City's 4-0 win over Real Madrid

European newspapers have hailed Manchester City following their 4-0 hammering of Real Madrid on Wednesday night to reach the Champions League final.

Following a 1-1 draw in Spain last week, the hosts took control at the Etihad, with Bernardo Silva scoring a first-half brace to put the Premier League leaders clear.

Manuel Akanji made it 3-0 with quarter of an hour remaining, before substitute Julian Alvarez finished the job in injury time.

The win takes Manchester City to their second Champions League final in three years, where they will face Inter Milan in Istanbul.

Media outlets across the continent were eager to hail Pep Guardiola's side for their dominant display as they eliminated last year's winners from the competition.

Italy's Corriere dello Sport led with 'They are monsters', hailing Man City's 'stellar' stars for the way they saw off the holders.

They said that the work of Pep Guardiola's team 'scares' Inter Milan boss Simone Inzaghi ahead of next month's final.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid's Carlo Ancelotti will not be involved in the season's last act in Istanbul on June 10 - although he has said he does not expect to be sacked as the club's manager despite also finishing behind champions Barcelona in LaLiga.

Spain's AS reads 'To cry', with Real Madrid's capitulation bringing emotion to the face of the experienced captain Karim Benzema, who was unable to do anything to stop home dominance at the Etihad.

They said the 4-0 was result was 'historic', but that Ancelotti felt it was 'clear' that Real's President had no intention of firing him despite the gulf in the scoreline.

Meanwhile Marca dwelled on the 'painful beating' that Real Madrid suffered, calling it a 'black night' for Los Blancos - who 'suffered ninety minutes of nightmare'.

They also said Belgian goalkeeper Thibault Courtois 'avoided a scandalous rout' during Man City's dominant play, despite conceding four times in north-east England.

France's L'Equipe compared Manchester City to the Titanic, hailing Silva's first-half brace in particular for its role in 'crushing the defending champions'.

Their notoriously tough ratings have also been unkind to Benzema and Real Madrid's Luka Modric, who both received scores of three out of a possible ten.

The Portuguese player's performance was naturally celebrated in his native country's Record newspaper too, hailing him with the cover and the phrase 'Big Bernardo'.

He is quoted as saying 'It was a very special night', while his boss Guardiola said 'One of the best I've seen in my life'.

Record note that June 10 - when the final is held in Turkey - is also the Day of Portugal, a national holiday in the country on the Iberian Peninsula.

Manchester City are next in action on Sunday, when they will win the Premier League title with a victory against Chelsea. Real Madrid look to secure second place in LaLiga, continuing their campaign on Sunday evening at 14th-placed Valencia.