Real Madrid Jude Bellingham netted a late goal to secure a 3-2 win for the reigning Champions League champions against Manchester City in a thrilling first leg of their knockout stage playoff on Tuesday at the Etihad Stadium.
Kylian Mbappe and Brahim Diaz also scored for Real, equalizing Erling Haaland’s two goals for City, creating an exciting second-leg matchup on February 19 in Madrid between two of Europe’s most renowned clubs and longstanding rivals.
Thrilling First Leg Ends in Dramatic Real Madrid Victory
Haaland netted the opening goal with his inaugural strike against Real in the 19th minute, receiving a chest pass from Josko Gvardiol before striking a volley into the far corner. Fans anxiously waited for the confirmation of the goal during a four-minute VAR review to check for offside.
Mbappe equalized in the 60th minute, capitalizing on a rebound from a free kick, haphazardly directing the ball off his shin over goalkeeper Ederson and into the goal.
Haaland scored from the penalty spot in the 80th minute, which was given after Dani Ceballos brought down Phil Foden by his right knee inside the box, deceiving keeper Thibaut Courtois.
He scored his 49th goal in 48 Champions League matches.
Manchester City Late Defensive Lapses Cost Them Victory
However, City has had difficulty maintaining their leads this season, allowing seven goals in the last 15 minutes of Champions League games. Former City player Diaz capitalized on a weak clearance by Ederson following Vinicius Jr’s shot and scored in the 86th minute.
England international Bellingham netted the decisive goal in the 92nd minute, eliciting groans from City supporters after a hesitant pass back from Mateo Kovacic to Rico Lewis allowed Vinicius to intercept and lift the ball over from the left side. Bellingham positioned himself ahead of John Stones to finish the play.
Key Moments: Haaland, Mbappe, Diaz, and Bellingham Shine
I’m pleased with the goal and the contribution to the team, Diaz stated. I believe we performed really well, it’s challenging here against a solid team… however, there’s still the second leg to come, and our work is far from over.
Real and City did not qualify directly for the last 16 as one of the eight leading teams in the Champions League standings, under the new league-phase structure, which means that one of the tournament’s strongest contenders will be out early.
Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti React to First-Leg Thriller
“It was an unusual situation. We showcased some of our finest football of the season but found ourselves trailing,” Bellingham remarked.
“I believe we played well and generated numerous opportunities. We maintained our confidence throughout the match that we would eventually get a break. Regardless of City’s current form, they remain an exceptional team. Competing against them is always challenging, and we finally seized the opportunity at the end.”
The teams are facing off for the fourth straight year, having encountered each other in four knockout rounds of the Champions League since 2020, but they have never faced each other this early in the prestigious tournament.
City manager Pep Guardiola stated that the regularity of the matches gives it a derby-like atmosphere, while Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti referred to the encounter as a “modern classic.”
Second Leg Preview: Real Madrid and Man City Set for Bernabeu Showdown
City defender Stones summed up the suffering of the home team by saying, It’s so raw and frustrating for everyone.
“We remained competitive in the match until very late, but then there were two instances that led to us conceding… We must improve our ability to close out games… Today, we had an excellent chance to head to the Bernabeu with a 2-1 advantage. This isn’t finished. We need to maintain a positive outlook, which is challenging right now.”
Champions League Knockout Stage Delivers Another Classic
Ancelotti advised his players to maintain composure for the upcoming match. We shouldn’t be trailing 1-2 we were truly a threat and defended admirably. Ultimately, the win is well-earned, he stated. We need to remain collected. This is just the first leg. Anything is possible at the Bernabeu.
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