Real Madrid, champions of the Champions League, defeated Manchester City 3-1 on Wednesday to advance to the last 16 with a 6-3 aggregate victory. Kylian Mbappe scored a brilliant hat-trick with a brilliant hat-trick.
When Nico Gonzalez scored in stoppage time, Pep Guardiola’s side suffered a painful early exit without putting a finger on the completely dominant 15-time record winners.
After combining with his attacking partners to cut the English side open, French superstar Mbappe broke the deadlock with a lob in the fourth minute.
After a slow start to life at Madrid, the striker hit a low strike from the edge of the box to score seven goals in ten games.
As has been the case for much of their campaign, City, who won the competition in 2023, were far from their best.
Before the game, Guardiola received bad news, with Haaland, who scored twice in the opening half but was replaced after suffering a knock against Newcastle at the weekend, named on the bench.
Antonio Rudiger, who was recovering from an injury, seamlessly slotted into defense, with Aurelien Tchouameni getting back into his preferred midfield position.
In the opening period, Carlo Ancelotti’s side took the lead. They almost succeeded in this feat.
After receiving a long pass from a young centre-back Raul Asencio, Mbappe shrugged off Ruben Dias and lofted the ball over City goalkeeper Ederson.
A few minutes later, John Stones hit the visitors in a second-guessing way, a further blow to the Premier League champions.
After Tchouameni sent Fede Valverde scurrying in with another ball over the top, Ederson saved from Mbappe, who had a narrow shot that was deflected in front of him.
– ‘ Fantastic four ‘ –
Mbappe netted his second in the 33rd minute after Madrid’s “fantastic four” star players combined. Vinicius was fed by Judo Bellingham, who ran the ball across to Rodrygo, who nudged Mbappe.
The former Paris Saint-Germain forward drilled home from the near post after leaving the flailing Josko Gvardiol sliding in the wrong direction.
Guardiola claimed that City only had a “one percent chance” to defeat Real Madrid, and that Guardiola’s team had acted in his place.
Bellingham booked their only foul on England team-mate Phil Foden, who was then suspended for the final 16 first leg, and his only blot on their copybook.
Bellingham was assured in midfield but Mbappe was in charge for the night despite creating a stir when they were sent off for dissention last weekend in La Liga.
Just after the hour mark, the 26-year-old opened up some space on the edge of the box and fired past Ederson as City’s defense struggled to defend his hat-trick with a superb individual goal.
Madrid and Mbappe had a standing ovation as they fought back in his absence but were unable to take them as the home fans admired the ease with which their team won in a contest that they have had many close fights with in the last ten years.
When Omar Marmoush hit a free-kick against the crossbar in stoppage time, Gonzalez tapped home the rebound, but it provided little consolation.
With a battle to finish in the top four on their hands, City have lost 13 games in their final 26 games across all competitions. They next face Premier League leaders Liverpool on Sunday in a game that will cost them.
Madrid, on the other hand, are still in the running for three major championships and, with Mbappe’s incredible form, think they can win them all.
Source: Channels TV
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