Real Madrid defeated Manchester City 3-1 during their second leg playoff match at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium to win 6-3 through aggregate points. Champions League Round of 16 2024-25 became accessible to Real Madrid after Kylian Mbappé delivered an amazing hat-trick in an incredible performance during their match. Among shining moments, City failed to overcome their first-leg shortfall which resulted in their elimination by the excellent performance of Real Madrid.
First Half: Madrid’s Early Dominance UEFA Champions League match
Real Madrid began their match under an extreme home crowd energy that started once the first whistle blew. Real Madrid started the match with the first goal as Manchester City played their traditional attacking possession game.
Real Madrid obtained their ideal match start from Mbappé when he scored in the fourth minute while his team led 1-0 in the aggregate score. Raúl Asencio launched a long forward pass which Mbappé received. The athletic French forward ran past Ruben Dias and performed a perfect car crusher to lob Ederson. This first score established the winner’s atmosphere which continued throughout Madrid’s dominant performance.
The defensive unit of Madrid neutralized attacks from City who maintained possession while failing to breach the defensive organization.
At minute 33 Real Madrid scored their second goal through Kylian Mbappé (2-0, 5-2 on aggregate) when a speedy fast break attack occurred. The combination of a quick pass from Jude Bellingham to Vinícius Jr enabled Rodrygo to sprint toward the opposing goal from the right flank. After winning the pass from his teammate the Brazilian Mbappé finished in a calm manner to score his second goal of the match.
Silva had the opportunity to score while unguarded in the penalty box before halftime but Lunin made a superb save after Silva’s crossing attempt.
Second Half: Mbappé Completes His Hat-Trick in UEFA Champions League
After the halftime break Pep Guardiola substituted in Phil Foden and Julián Álvarez to boost his attack. During the second half Manchester City challenged Real Madrid from the front lines with long-distance shots while keeping the Spanish team defend their penalty area.
The dangerous late counterattacks of Madrid continued because the squad found another goal shortly following the hour mark.
At minute 61 Mbappé scored his third goal and final goal of the match (3-0, 6-2 aggregate) with a brilliant finish. A fast counter resulted after Valverde interrupted a City attacking move. Bellingham perfectly delivered a through pass to Mbappé while the French forward beat the last defender before Ederson to score. All fans at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium joined in the wild celebrations because they understood Madrid now held a strong spot in the round of 16.
City’s Late Consolation
The team of Manchester City kept fighting during stoppage time until they scored their last goal of the match.
Kevin De Bruyne delivered a precise cross to the penalty area after which Nico González scored on his head for the 3-1 victory as City won on a combined score of 6-3. The goal arrived too late because the official brought an end to the match almost immediately after scoring.
Key Performances
Kylian Mbappé scored a triumphant hat-trick which raised his total goal contributions through his career to 500 strikes. The opponent players could not defend against his quick movements along with deadly finishing abilities.
Through his improved midfield control Jude Bellingham provided assist to Mbappé for the player’s third goal.
Antonio Rüdiger showed exceptional defensive leadership by limiting Erling Haaland while stopping most of City’s attacks throughout the match.
Tactical Analysis
The tactical blueprint from Madrifas boss Carlo Ancelotti ran smoothly through his team. The team executed a perfect counterattack to compensate for their defensive pressure against City’s dominant ball retention. Guardiola’s team experienced difficulty finding their finishing touch because they could not handle the fast counterattacks from Madrid.
Conclusion
Real Madrid continues to strengthen their playoff position in the quarter-finals after winning this match making them major competition contenders. The defending champions Manchester City experienced their earliest Champions League departure since Guardiola took charge at the club. The match belonged to Kylian Mbappé as his three goals confirmed his place among football greats.
