Manchester City are into the Carabao Cup final after a routine 1-0 win at Burton sealed a 10-0 aggregate triumph.
Sergio Aguero scored the only goal on a freezing night at the Pirelli Stadium, completing a comprehensive success for the holders that sends them to the Wembley final on February 24.
City fielded a side with a mixture of youth and experience as they went through the motions against their Sky Bet League One hosts, while Benjamin Mendy returned to action after more than two months out injured.
Nigel Clough's side did create the odd threat as they sought a consolation on what was still a momentous night for the club, despite the one-sided nature of the tie, but City held firm.
Pep Guardiola gave Phil Foden another run-out while there was a debut for winger Ian Poveda-Ocampo and further chances for promising defenders Eric Garcia and Philippe Sandler.
None of them looked out of their depth but they benefited enormously from playing alongside the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Riyad Mahrez and Aguero.
🏟️ We all knew this before tonight but #EFLCup holders #MCFC are now heading to Wembley for the 13th time since 2013 (excluding league games v Spurs)!
— Sporting Life Football (@SportingLifeFC) January 23, 2019
It'll be their fourth League Cup final in this time and seventh of all time. The only one they lost was back in 1974 v Wolves pic.twitter.com/5uKA33m6xI
Burton could not be faulted for enthusiasm as they ran at City willingly but with little joy.
Liam Boyce got the crowd excited when he flicked towards goal from an early set-piece but Aro Muric was down quickly to smother the effort. Marcus Harness also got the better of Oleksandr Zinchenko but his final ball was lacking.
Despite those efforts, the difference in quality was evident as Mahrez and De Bruyne took charge.
Aguero actually looked rusty in the early stages but he soon shrugged that off to score after 26 minutes. Mahrez, who had already shot wide twice, collected a fine through ball from De Bruyne and laid back for the Argentinian to finish with a neat low strike.
Burton were almost gifted a chance when Muric got too casual and allowed a pass to escape his control but the youngster recovered to clear off the line.
The Brewers pushed again early in the second half and David Templeton wanted a penalty after colliding with Danilo but referee Kevin Friend waved away the appeal.
Aguero should have doubled City's lead on the hour but uncharacteristically missed the target from close range after being presented with a gilt-edged chance from a Foden cutback.
It proved his final act of the night as he made way for Gabriel Jesus soon after, while Mendy was also introduced.
Sandler almost allowed Burton in for a consolation when he slipped and Boyce pounced but Muric blocked his shot and Garcia cleared Will Miller's follow-up effort off the line.
Jesus, who scored four in the first leg, almost added a second for City late on but his close-range effort was blocked and Bradley Collins pushed over a Danilo free-kick.
Opta Stats
- Manchester City have reached consecutive League Cup finals for the first time. The Citizens are looking to emulate Manchester rivals Man Utd who were the last team to both reach and win consecutive finals in the competition in 2008-09 and 2009-10.
- Manchester City’s 10-0 aggregate victory over Burton Albion is the biggest semi-final aggregate win in League Cup history – overtaking their 9-0 aggregate win against West Ham in 2014.
- Since conceding a goal to Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino on 3rd January, Man City have gone 476 minutes without conceding while scoring 24 in reply.
- Riyad Mahrez was directly involved in four of Man City’s 10 goals against Burton – one goal and two assists in the first leg and an assist in the second leg.
- Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero has scored in five of his last six League Cup semi-final appearances (5 goals).
👍🏆 Forget how the run ended, Burton have been brilliant in this season's #EFLCup
— Sporting Life Football (@SportingLifeFC) January 23, 2019
👏 @burtonalbionfc #BAFC pic.twitter.com/CoHLd26kJQ
