Mbappé's Masterclass Sends Real Madrid Past Manchester City in Champions League

In a near-perfect performance, Real Madrid sent Manchester City packing from the Champions League, dominating the tie in a way that left the English side completely powerless.

Madrid wasted no time in asserting their dominance, scoring in their first attack after surviving a timid three-minute spell of pressure from City. A magnificent long ball from Marco Asensio was expertly controlled by Kylian Mbappé, who delicately lobbed the ball over the advancing Ederson. From that point on, Real Madrid seized full control of the game, piling on the pressure. They delivered corner after corner, hardly allowing City to escape their own half. Eventually, another long ball—this time from Aurélien Tchouaméni—led to a second goal, with Mbappé finishing with clinical precision to double the lead.

Throughout the entire first half, Manchester City failed to trouble Thibaut Courtois even once.

The second half offered no respite for the visitors. The first shot on target for City came only in the 76th minute, by which time the scoreline was already 3-0, with Mbappé completing his hat-trick with a thunderous strike from the edge of the box. The only thing City could muster was a late consolation goal in injury time, as Nico González tapped in the rebound off the crossbar following a free-kick from Marcos Marumush. However, this did little to change the overall impression of a disjointed, helpless, and uninspired performance from Pep Guardiola's men.

2024-25 UEFA Champions League

Real - Man City 3:1 (2:0)
Goals: Mbappé, 4 (1:0); Mbappé, 33 (2:0); Mbappé, 61 (3:0); Nico González, 91 (3:1)

Real: Courtois; Asencio R.; Mendy Fe.; Rudiger; Dani Ceballos (Camavinga, 78); Tchouaméni (Modric, 83); Bellingham; Valverde F. (Endrick, 90); Vinícius Júnior (Alaba, 90); Mbappé (Diaz Br., 78); Rodrygo
Bench: Lunin Andriy; Mestre; Vallejo; García Fr.; Vazquez L.; Güler A.
Yellow Cards: Bellingham 38

Man City: Ederson; Dias R.; Gvardiol; Stones (Ake, 8); Khusanov; Gundogan (Kovacic M., 77); Foden (Mcatee, 77); Nico González; Bernardo Silva; Sávio Moreira; Marmoush
Bench: Carson; Ortega S.; Lewis R.; De Bruyne; Grealish; Matheus Nunes; Doku J.; Håland E.
Yellow Cards: Gundogan 28; Nico González 47