In a pulsating Champions League knockout play-off first leg at the Etihad Stadium, Real Madrid showcased their renowned resilience by overturning the scoreline to secure a 3-2 victory over Manchester City. The match was a rollercoaster of emotions, with both teams exchanging leads in a high-octane encounter.
Manchester City drew first blood in the 19th minute when Erling Haaland capitalized on a chest pass from Josko Gvardiol, slotting the ball past Thibaut Courtois. The goal was confirmed after a lengthy VAR review, igniting the home crowd’s celebrations.
Real Madrid, undeterred by the early setback, pressed forward with intent. Their persistence paid off in the 60th minute when Kylian Mbappé equalized, albeit with a mis-hit volley that looped over Ederson into the net.
The drama intensified as City regained the lead in the 80th minute. Phil Foden’s quick feet drew a foul from Dani Ceballos inside the box, resulting in a penalty. Haaland stepped up and confidently converted, marking his second goal of the night.
However, the final moments belonged to Real Madrid. In the 86th minute, former City midfielder Brahim Díaz pounced on a rebound after Ederson parried a Vinícius Júnior shot, leveling the score at 2-2. Then, in stoppage time, Vinícius intercepted a pass and lofted the ball over Ederson, allowing Jude Bellingham to tap in the winner, sealing a memorable comeback for the visitors.
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti lauded his team’s performance, stating, “We played some of our best football of the season and ended up behind. I think we were playing well and creating a lot. We were always confident throughout the game that something would drop for us.”
The victory provides Real Madrid with a crucial advantage heading into the second leg at the Santiago Bernabéu. Manchester City will need to regroup and deliver a formidable performance in Spain to overturn the deficit and keep their Champions League aspirations alive.