“I think it’s impossible for 90 minutes, 180 minutes or 200 minutes – it depends on extra time – to control these four players. Everybody knows they are exceptional“ said Pep Guardiola before the first round of Champions League playoff against Real, referring to Vinicius, Mbappe, Rodrygo and Bellingam. And he was right. His Manchester City couldn‘t control not only these four footballers, but many others in Real team, and that is why they were defeated tonight in injury time: Manchester City – Real Madrid 2-3. In a fantastic game (probably the best one in the competition so far), the current European champion deserved to win as they managed a lot more clear-cut chances and turned around the game from a 1-0 and 2-1 down to 3-2 in a way only they know how. Vinicus, Mbappe, Bellingham, Mendy, Valverde all head great chances but failed to use them at one point of the match, while the Citizens scored from their first chance. The unlucky scorer was Haaland, who finally managed to find the net against a top class team. The Norwegian striker added another one in the second half from the penalty spot to gave his team another lead, but it was Real who harassed City‘s defense throughout the game and managed to score in the 86th and 92d minute for a win and and a huge advantage ahead of the second round.Jude Bellingham deserves maximum credit for his elite movement for the winning goalCasuals will say that he was lucky. People who know ball will know that his world class movement created the goal pic.twitter.com/NWYMSTD2ZO— Kylian Mbappe is the GOAT (@Tezzathekchen) February 11, 2025 Out of the four attacking players, Mbappe and Bellingham managed to score, while former Citizen and African star Brahim Diaz added another one soon as he came in as a sub. Looking at tonight’s game, Real has a clear advantage ahead of the replay in Madrid. The champions were a better team who created some excellent chances, while City looked vulnerably most of the time. Lucas Vazquez, Antonio Rudiger, David Alaba, Eder Militao and Dani Carvajal were all missing in defense so midfield players Aurélien Tchouaméni and Ernesto Valverde had to be in backfield and still City managed only one goal against them (the second one was from a penalty kick). Pep Guardiola’s team will have to play as twice as better tonight in order to have any chance against the current European champion.🔵 19′ – Haaland scores for City! A sharp move and a goal to remember. #MCIRMA #ChampionsLeague #RealMadrid pic.twitter.com/mslUMH2HQj— Abdullah (@eyemAbdullah) February 11, 2025 Action packed first half ended with only one goal. Amazing, considering the chances, and it should have been at least three more. Both clubs played in ‘waves‘, first Real, then City and then Real again. The guests created the first chance of the game when Vinicius passed Ederson who brought him down, but offside saved City from receiving a goal. Then it was time for Vinicius who couldn‘t get a clear chance but his colleague Mendy took too much time in setting up his shot and allowed Ake to mingle and defend. It was a really big chance for the visitors, but it was City who scored first and they managed it from their first chance of the game. Grealish started the action and Gvardiol came in with a pass to Haaland who tucked the ball beyond Courtois. It was a long VAR check due to possible offside but the goal was confirmed at the end. Then the Citizens started to press for the second, but in the meantime Vinicius struck the crossbar in the 25th minute. Then Courtois saved a shot from Foden, who came in after half an hour instead of injured Grealish and Akanji hit the crossbar for Manchester after a corner in 37th minute. Then it was time for Real chances again. Valverde‘s shot ended just over the crossbar while Mbappe did the same (from a better position) in injury time.BRAHIM DIAZ GOAL FOR REAL MADRID pic.twitter.com/UaqQjues3y— Kara (@UTDKara) February 11, 2025 The second half started with a crossbar from Haaland in the 46th minute, but soon Real started to push again. Ederson denied Mbappe in the 55th minute but conceived an unfortunate goal five minutes later. Ceballos made a superb pass over the top and Mbappe came forward at a perfect time. His shot was a clumsy one, as he caught the ball with his shin, but it somehow managed to cross the line for a deserved equalizer. Valverde came down the right and his shot went near the right bar, while Bellingham embarrassed himself in the 66th minute. He was in front of Ederson and could choose his side, but instead took a shot straight at the Brazilian keeper who managed a leg save. The Citizens were just hanging in there and it looked that Real‘s second goal is just a matter of time, but Ceballos‘ unfortunate contact with Foden at the penalty area line was proclaimed a penalty and Haaland scored his second goal. And just when City fans though they somehow managed to get away with a win, Real came back. The Moroccan international stunned the home crowd with an equalizer in the 86th minute before Bellinhgam delivered the final blow to the shocked City players in the 92nd minute. Advantage Real.UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE – PLAYOFFSTuesday Brest – PSG 0-3 (0-2)/Vitinha 21(p), Dembele 45,66/Juventus – PSV 2-1 (1-0)/McKennie 34, Mbangula 82 – Perisic 56/Man.City – Real Madrid 2-2 (1-0)/Haaland 19, 80 – Mbappe 60, Diaz 86/Sporting – Dortmund 0-3 (0-0)/Guirassy 60, Gross 68, Adeyemi 82/Wednesday20.45: (3.60) Club Brugge (3.40) Atalanta (2.10)23.00: (7.75) Celtic (4.80) Bayern (1.40)23.00: (2.95) Feyenoord (3.45) Milan (2.35)23.00: (2.35) Monaco (3.45) Benfica (2.95)***odds are subject to change***
