Archive February 20, 2025

“I want to write history with Real Madrid.”

Kylian Mbappe’s message to the media was clear after his brilliant hat-trick destroyed Manchester City in the second leg of their 3-1 Champions League play-off win.

The French striker’s goal in the 3-2 first-leg victory at Etihad Stadium may have come from a scuffed finish, but there was nothing fortunate about any of his three in the return at Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday that sealed a 6-3 aggregate success over the English champions.

Mbappe’s talent was on full display – his blistering pace, sharp movement and ruthless finishing proving too much for Pep Guardiola’s side to handle and sealing the holders’ place in the last 16.

Not long ago, the France captain had come under heavy scrutiny from Real fans and pundits after scoring just three times in 11 appearances for Carlo Ancelotti’s side. It followed the 26-year-old’s acrimonious exit from Paris St-Germain to join the Spanish giants on a free transfer last June when his contract ended.

But he has now scored 27 goals in all competitions so far this season after a ‘slow start’ to life in Madrid. It’s safe to say he is no longer adapting, but thriving.

“The adaptation period for me has ended and now I have to show my quality,” said Mbappe. “I want to play well here, I want to make a mark on the season.

“We wanted to win. We wanted to qualify for the next round. For us it was only logical that Real reached the next round of the Champions League.”

Mbappe is now starting to look more like the feared frontman who scored 256 goals in 308 appearances during six years at PSG.

And the Real faithful have clearly embraced him too as he received a standing ovation when he was taken off in the 78th minute after his treble.

“What an ovation it is for Mbappe,” said BBC Radio 5 Live’s chief football correspondent John Murray.

Mbappe struggled to adapt to the central striker role entrusted in him by Ancelotti, with Vinicius Jr preferred in his favourite left-wing role.

“If you go back to the first Clasico of the season at Bernabeu, it was so big for him,” European football expert James Horncastle told BBC Match of the Day.

“Madrid lost 4-0, Mbappe didn’t score and he was caught offside eight times. That was unthinkable for him.”

His poor form in Spain even cost him a place in the France squad as Didier Deschamps omitted the national team captain from four Nations League fixtures in October and November last year.

But since the turn of the new year, he has scored seven goals in six La Liga matches while also keeping Real alive in Europe after a shaky start to their campaign.

“I don’t think anyone has ever doubted his talents, there was just going to be an adaptation period for him joining this club,” said former England defender Joleon Lescott on TNT Sports.

Murray added: “There were one or two questions as to whether he would fit in here. That now seems preposterous.”

It is no wonder he is already drawing comparisons with another Real legend – one Cristiano Ronaldo.

In fact, numbers suggest he is already emulating the Portugal superstar, who won four Champions League crowns and two La Liga titles during a trophy-laden stay Madrid.

Mbappe’s seven goals in this season’s Champions League has him level with Ronaldo (2009-10) and Spanish striker Justo Tejada (1961-62) for most goals scored by a Real player in Europe’s premier club competition during their debut campaign.

“It is incredible what he has done in his career,” team-mate Jude Bellingham told TNT Sports.

“I know he had a slow start here and took time getting used to life here. Now he is flying and it’s so good to see.”

With more performances like Wednesday, it will only be a matter of time before he cements his status as the face, and hero, of this Real side.

“Tonight, he definitely announced himself with this club and the fans,” added former Manchester City and England defender Lescott.

Watch highlights of every Champions League game from 22:00 on Wednesday on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app.

Manchester City’s shocking decline and fall was confirmed by their own travelling supporters suffering on the top tier of the Bernabeu as they were being ruthlessly put to the sword by Real Madrid.

The giant clock inside this magnificent arena was on 80 minutes when Mateo Kovacic lined up a tame shot that flew straight at Real keeper Thibaut Courtois, who was probably grateful for the exercise.

City were trailing 3-0, a scoreline that flattered them, so the hardy band of followers decided irony was the best medicine for the torture of watching their once all-conquering side, breaking out into rapturous cheering and applause.

Moments later, with City achieving the rare feat of stringing several passes together, chants of “Ole” came from the travelling suppoort.

This summed up a pitiful, desperate night for manager Pep Guardiola, as they subsided in the most timid fashion, a sense of inevitability draped over the Bernabeu from the moment Kylian Mbappe scored the first goal of a brilliant hat-trick after only four minutes.

Losing to Real Madrid is an occupational hazard of the Champions League. Losing to Real Madrid by barely laying a glove on them is a sign of Manchester City’s steep downward curve this season.

The credits were rolling, and not just on their Champions League campaign, as they failed to reach the last 16 for the first time since they failed to get past the group stage in 2012-13.

They are surely rolling, too, on a great team in need of major renovation.

In the most palatial surroundings of this rebuilt stadium, this had the look and feel of the end of an era.

Guardiola almost seemed to accept this was the case as he stated in the aftermath: “Nothing is eternal. “

He said: “The best team won. They deserved it. This is the benchmark. We have to accept it and move forward.

“In previous seasons when we were better, it hurt more. We have to accept it and the reality of our team. “

Asked whether a rebuild is needed, he said: “We have time. We have 13 games left in the Premier League to get into this competition next season. “

City’s need for a changing of the guard was made to look even more stark by the ease in which they were dismissed by Real Madrid, yes the holders and the superpower of the Champions League, but also a side they have consistently pushed in matches almost too close to call over several years.

Real Madrid were able to play within themselves after four minutes, Mbappe’s hat-trick completed with superb speed of thought and foot for his second after 33 minutes then low drive just after the hour.

The Bernabeu, surrounded by thousands of fans forming a welcoming committee for Carlo Ancelotti’s side two hours before kick-off, with flares lighting up the Spanish sky and the the smell of cordite in the air, witnessed a procession, a very painful procession for those who travelled from Manchester.

Guardiola, justifiably, will claim mitigating circumstances as Erling Haaland was only fit enough for the bench, not even taking part in the pre-match warm-up after sustaining a knee injury late in the 4-0 win against Newcastle United.

And moments after Mbappe opened the scoring, John Stones suffered another injury and limped off.

It was not that City lost, most observers expected this outcome after the 3-2 defeat in the first leg at Etihad Stadium, it was the manner of the defeat.

City never looked like they believed they could pull off the “perfect” performance Guardiola stated was required to overturn that deficit. This was about as far from perfection as it gets.

And the clues were everywhere that if it is not exactly back to the drawing board for Guardiola after six Premier Leagues, a Champions League, two FA Cups, four League Cups, a Super Cup and a Club World Cup in a magnificent run of successes, then it is certainly time for a new set of plans.

Kevin de Bruyne, who has decorated this fixture over many years, was only on the bench after an ineffectual performance in the first leg.

John Stones, 31 in May, is still a pivotal figure but suffers so many injuries, while 34-year-old surprise starter Ilkay Gundogan delivered more evidence that he left his best at Manchester City in his glorious first spell.

Goalkeeper Ederson, 31, is not the guarantee of reliability he once was while gifted midfield metronome Bernardo Silva is not the influence of old as he reaches 30. Jack Grealish, 30 in September, was also only on the bench.

It was a tough night for the young defender, clearly seen as a weakness in City’s make-up and relentlessly targeted down the flank.

Guardiola’s takeaway from this harrowing night must be that he needs a ruthless cull of those older names, players who have delivered so magnificently for him.

Rarely has such an elite team’s form and quality fallen off the cliff so fast and so hard.

This is a team that has been allowed to grow too old together, that is now unable to find the old hunger that enabled it to return to the well of success so brilliantly year after year.

Guardiola has signed a new two-year contract and his task must be to fashion a new team before it is time to discuss another deal.

The Bernabeu is the most unforgiving arena in the Champions League, its stunning refurbishment complete with five tiers of stands looking down on City’s demise.

It was a particular galling night for Guardiola, not simply because the task in front of him was laid out in graphic, gruesome detail before his very eyes, but also because Real Madrid’s fans revelled in his discomfort as a result of his Barcelona allegiances.

Guardiola’s name was met with deafening jeers and whistles when it was read out before kick-off, and when one of the many giant screens captured his despair in close-up after Mbappe’s early strike, a huge roar of delight swept around the stadium.

As City players trooped disconsolately away at the final whistle, some of them perhaps on their way out of this tournament forever with this club, there was no consolation to be had, certainly not from Gonzalez’s late goal.

Manchester City have had a magnificent run. They have lit up domestic and European competition with the quality of their football but this was a night when it looked like their race was run. It is time for change.

The dismissive way they were treated by a Real Madrid side they have regarded as rivals in recent years showed they need new blood to return to that former golden status.

Manchester City’s shocking decline and fall was confirmed by their own travelling supporters suffering on the top tier of the Bernabeu as they were being ruthlessly put to the sword by Real Madrid.

The giant clock inside this magnificent arena was on 80 minutes when Mateo Kovacic lined up a tame shot that flew straight at Real keeper Thibaut Courtois, who was probably grateful for the exercise.

City were trailing 3-0, a scoreline that flattered them, so the hardy band of followers decided irony was the best medicine for the torture of watching their once all-conquering side, breaking out into rapturous cheering and applause.

Moments later, with City achieving the rare feat of stringing several passes together, chants of “Ole” came from the travelling suppoort.

This summed up a pitiful, desperate night for manager Pep Guardiola, as they subsided in the most timid fashion, a sense of inevitability draped over the Bernabeu from the moment Kylian Mbappe scored the first goal of a brilliant hat-trick after only four minutes.

Losing to Real Madrid is an occupational hazard of the Champions League. Losing to Real Madrid by barely laying a glove on them is a sign of Manchester City’s steep downward curve this season.

The credits were rolling, and not just on their Champions League campaign, as they failed to reach the last 16 for the first time since they failed to get past the group stage in 2012-13.

They are surely rolling, too, on a great team in need of major renovation.

In the most palatial surroundings of this rebuilt stadium, this had the look and feel of the end of an era.

Guardiola almost seemed to accept this was the case as he stated in the aftermath: “Nothing is eternal. “

He said: “The best team won. They deserved it. This is the benchmark. We have to accept it and move forward.

“In previous seasons when we were better, it hurt more. We have to accept it and the reality of our team. “

Asked whether a rebuild is needed, he said: “We have time. We have 13 games left in the Premier League to get into this competition next season. “

City’s need for a changing of the guard was made to look even more stark by the ease in which they were dismissed by Real Madrid, yes the holders and the superpower of the Champions League, but also a side they have consistently pushed in matches almost too close to call over several years.

Real Madrid were able to play within themselves after four minutes, Mbappe’s hat-trick completed with superb speed of thought and foot for his second after 33 minutes then low drive just after the hour.

The Bernabeu, surrounded by thousands of fans forming a welcoming committee for Carlo Ancelotti’s side two hours before kick-off, with flares lighting up the Spanish sky and the the smell of cordite in the air, witnessed a procession, a very painful procession for those who travelled from Manchester.

Guardiola, justifiably, will claim mitigating circumstances as Erling Haaland was only fit enough for the bench, not even taking part in the pre-match warm-up after sustaining a knee injury late in the 4-0 win against Newcastle United.

And moments after Mbappe opened the scoring, John Stones suffered another injury and limped off.

It was not that City lost, most observers expected this outcome after the 3-2 defeat in the first leg at Etihad Stadium, it was the manner of the defeat.

City never looked like they believed they could pull off the “perfect” performance Guardiola stated was required to overturn that deficit. This was about as far from perfection as it gets.

And the clues were everywhere that if it is not exactly back to the drawing board for Guardiola after six Premier Leagues, a Champions League, two FA Cups, four League Cups, a Super Cup and a Club World Cup in a magnificent run of successes, then it is certainly time for a new set of plans.

Kevin de Bruyne, who has decorated this fixture over many years, was only on the bench after an ineffectual performance in the first leg.

John Stones, 31 in May, is still a pivotal figure but suffers so many injuries, while 34-year-old surprise starter Ilkay Gundogan delivered more evidence that he left his best at Manchester City in his glorious first spell.

Goalkeeper Ederson, 31, is not the guarantee of reliability he once was while gifted midfield metronome Bernardo Silva is not the influence of old as he reaches 30. Jack Grealish, 30 in September, was also only on the bench.

It was a tough night for the young defender, clearly seen as a weakness in City’s make-up and relentlessly targeted down the flank.

Guardiola’s takeaway from this harrowing night must be that he needs a ruthless cull of those older names, players who have delivered so magnificently for him.

Rarely has such an elite team’s form and quality fallen off the cliff so fast and so hard.

This is a team that has been allowed to grow too old together, that is now unable to find the old hunger that enabled it to return to the well of success so brilliantly year after year.

Guardiola has signed a new two-year contract and his task must be to fashion a new team before it is time to discuss another deal.

The Bernabeu is the most unforgiving arena in the Champions League, its stunning refurbishment complete with five tiers of stands looking down on City’s demise.

It was a particular galling night for Guardiola, not simply because the task in front of him was laid out in graphic, gruesome detail before his very eyes, but also because Real Madrid’s fans revelled in his discomfort as a result of his Barcelona allegiances.

Guardiola’s name was met with deafening jeers and whistles when it was read out before kick-off, and when one of the many giant screens captured his despair in close-up after Mbappe’s early strike, a huge roar of delight swept around the stadium.

As City players trooped disconsolately away at the final whistle, some of them perhaps on their way out of this tournament forever with this club, there was no consolation to be had, certainly not from Gonzalez’s late goal.

Manchester City have had a magnificent run. They have lit up domestic and European competition with the quality of their football but this was a night when it looked like their race was run. It is time for change.

The dismissive way they were treated by a Real Madrid side they have regarded as rivals in recent years showed they need new blood to return to that former golden status.