Manchester City vs Real Madrid Report

Scorers: Haaland 19’, 80’ (P); Mbappe 60’, Diaz 86’, Bellingham 90+2’

Jude Bellingham struck a dramatic 92nd-minute winner as Real Madrid came from behind twice to defeat Manchester City 3-2 in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League (UCL) knockout round play-off at the Etihad Stadium. The victory marked Los Blancos’ first-ever win inside 90 minutes at City’s home ground, putting them in the driving seat ahead of the second leg at the Santiago Bernabéu.

City Strike First in High-Tempo First Half

The highly anticipated clash got off to an electrifying start, with both teams showcasing their attacking prowess.

Manchester City’s home crowd added fuel to the fire with a pre-match banner mocking Vinícius Júnior, but the Brazilian responded with an energetic performance, creating the game’s first major chance.

He threaded a brilliant pass to Kylian Mbappé, whose effort was denied by Ederson, before Nathan Aké made a crucial block to thwart Ferland Mendy from converting the rebound.

Having survived those early scares, City took the lead in the 17th minute. A slick move culminated in Joško Gvardiol cushioning the ball into Erling Haaland’s path, and the Norwegian striker fired past Thibaut Courtois for his first-ever goal against Real Madrid.

Madrid responded well, with Vinícius rattling the crossbar with a deflected shot. However, City suffered a setback as Jack Grealish was forced off injured on the half-hour mark after a lively start, with Phil Foden taking his place.

The chances continued to flow at both ends, with Foden testing Courtois, Manuel Akanji’s header grazing the crossbar, and Federico Valverde coming close for the visitors. Mbappé then squandered a golden opportunity before the half-time whistle, blazing his shot over the bar.

Second-Half Drama: Goals, Controversy, and a Late Twist

Akanji, who had looked physically troubled towards the end of the first half, was replaced at the break, but City remained on the front foot. Haaland nearly doubled his tally, only for Eduardo Camavinga’s deflection to divert the ball onto the crossbar.

Madrid then began to find their rhythm, with Vinícius skipping past Rico Lewis and delivering a perfect cross that Jude Bellingham narrowly headed wide.

Ederson was then called into action, denying Mbappé’s instinctive shot before Gvardiol produced a superb tackle to halt the Frenchman’s next attempt.

The equaliser finally arrived on the hour mark. Dani Ceballos dinked a delicate pass over City’s defence, and while Mbappé’s connection wasn’t clean, his effort wrong-footed Ederson, restoring parity and setting up a thrilling finale.

However, Madrid’s joy was short-lived as City quickly restored their lead. Ceballos, moments after assisting the equaliser, conceded a penalty for bringing down Foden inside the box.

Haaland made no mistake from the spot, sending Courtois the wrong way for his second goal of the night.

But the twists didn’t stop there. Just two minutes after coming on as a substitute, Brahim Díaz pounced on a rebound after Ederson parried Vinícius’ shot, slotting home against his former club to make it 2-2.

Then, in the dying moments, Real Madrid delivered the knockout blow. Vinícius capitalised on City’s defensive hesitation, breaking forward before poking the ball towards goal.

Bellingham reacted instinctively, turning the ball past Ederson to complete Madrid’s stunning comeback and secure a crucial away victory.

What the Result Means for Both Teams

Real Madrid’s fourth consecutive UCL victory puts them in a commanding position heading into the second leg at the Bernabéu. With the away goal advantage and their incredible European pedigree, Los Blancos will feel confident about finishing the job in front of their home crowd.

For Manchester City, this defeat extends their poor run in Europe, with just one win in their last six continental matches. Pep Guardiola’s side will need to regroup and produce something special in Madrid if they are to keep their Champions League dreams alive.

Final Thoughts

This was a classic Champions League contest, filled with end-to-end action, moments of brilliance, and late drama.

Haaland’s brace and Mbappé’s brilliance were overshadowed by Bellingham’s stoppage-time heroics, as Real Madrid once again proved their ability to thrive in high-pressure situations.

With everything still to play for, the return leg in Madrid promises to be another unmissable encounter. Can City fight back, or will Real Madrid’s European dominance continue? All eyes will be on the Bernabéu for the decisive showdown.

For more info on this game’s outcome, you may also visit:
Man City vs Real Madrid | UEFA Champions League 2024/25