Kylian Mbappe delivered a sensational performance for Real Madrid, netting a hat-trick to power his side to a 3-1 victory over Manchester City in the second leg of their Champions League knockout tie.
The win secured a dominant 6-3 aggregate triumph, sending the Spanish giants through in emphatic fashion.
City had entered the tie with a slight edge, leading until the 86th minute of the first leg before conceding twice late on.
However, the return fixture at the Santiago Bernabeu was a different story, as Real Madrid’s pedigree and firepower proved too much for Pep Guardiola’s side.
Following the defeat, Guardiola was gracious in his post-match comments, telling TNT Sports, “We accept it. The best team won, so congratulations Real Madrid and now we focus on the Premier League. It’s the first year we didn’t make a good Champions League season, and we accept it and fight for next season to be here again.”
Mbappe’s Brilliance Seals Real Madrid’s Victory
The French forward wasted no time making his mark, capitalizing on a simple ball over the top within four minutes.
A slip from Ruben Dias allowed Mbappe to pounce, and he calmly lobbed the onrushing goalkeeper to give the hosts the lead.
City’s night worsened shortly after when John Stones was forced off due to injury. Real Madrid continued to pile on the pressure, with Mbappe once again outpacing Dias before forcing a crucial save from Ederson.
However, in the 34th minute, the 25-year-old doubled his tally. A clever sequence of passes found Rodrygo, who laid it off for Mbappe. The forward’s quick footwork left Josko Gvardiol on the floor before he fired home to send the Bernabeu into raptures.
Key Team News
Manchester City made two notable changes, with Erling Haaland surprisingly left on the bench. Omar Marmoush took his place in the starting XI, while Bernardo Silva replaced Rico Lewis.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid welcomed Antonio Rudiger back after missing the first leg, with Jude Bellingham also in the lineup despite a recent two-game domestic ban.
Mbappe Completes His Hat-Trick
Mbappe sealed his perfect night on the hour mark. Unmarked on the right side of the box, he breezed past Phil Foden before sending a pinpoint low shot into the far corner, capping off a masterclass in finishing.
City struggled to create opportunities, failing to register a shot on target until the final 15 minutes.
Their sole consolation came in stoppage time when Marmoush’s free-kick struck the crossbar, allowing Nico Gonzalez to convert on the rebound. A quick VAR check confirmed the goal, but it did little to change the outcome of the tie.
With the defeat, City now turn their attention to a crucial Premier League showdown against Liverpool on Sunday, a match that could define their domestic campaign.
Player of the Match: Kylian Mbappe.
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Bellingham, “Mbappe Had a Slow Start, but Now He’s Flying”
Speaking to TNT Sports, Jude Bellingham praised his teammate, “We go into games knowing he’ll affect them – our job in behind him is to get into the best positions possible, and when he gets the ball in those areas, he’ll be dangerous. You saw that with his different type of goals – it’s incredible what he’s done in his career. I know he had a slow start, but he’s now flying. It’s a pleasure to watch.”
On Real Madrid’s fluctuating form, Bellingham added, “Results can be humbling. You need a reminder that talent won’t be enough when we go away to teams. It’s not enough just showing up and taking the points. You need organisation and commitment to the cause – and we showed that in these two games.”
Guardiola: “Difficult for City After First Goal”
Reflecting on the defeat, Guardiola acknowledged the early setback, “The game was in the 2-1 [first leg], we conceded with a mistake in the last two and coming here with one down [on aggregate] and start with an injury from John [Stones].”
He continued, “After the action from the first goal, it was a little bit what happened all the season, but it’s more difficult because of the quality they have. We want to extend that for a little bit longer for the result, and everything can happen, but after that, it was difficult.”
On Mbappe’s influence, Guardiola admitted, “Not just him, they have a lot of players. It’s a fantastic team, so we just congratulate them, they deserve to go through.”
Looking ahead, he emphasized City’s next challenge:
“Win against Liverpool in the next game and qualify for the Champions League next season.”
Ancelotti: “We Are a Dangerous Team”
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti highlighted his side’s defensive discipline and attacking prowess, “Our goal was to be good defensively and we have a lot of quality in attack. We’re not always able to defend as a block, but in these two games, we did it and we had the quality.”
On Mbappe’s role, he remarked, “[Mbappe] is a fantastic player. We have a lot of quality, and when they are able to connect to [Jude] Bellingham, we are really dangerous. That happened in the two games, we had lots of opportunities against a really good team.”
When asked if he was surprised by City’s lack of attacking threat, Ancelotti admitted, “A little bit. We spent a lot of time in a low block – the players understood to work collectively in defence.”
What’s Next?
Real Madrid now set their sights on the Champions League last-16, where they will face either Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen. Meanwhile, City must regroup quickly as they prepare for a massive Premier League showdown with Liverpool.
