Manchester City vs Real Madrid LIVE: Champions League result and reaction as visitors snatch late win
Manchester City 2-3 Real Madrid: Jude Bellingham struck in stoppage time to snatch a first-leg advantage in the play-off tie
Real Madrid produced their latest Champions League late show to snatch a first-leg advantage in their mighty play-off clash with Manchester City.
The visitors had appeared bound for a defeat at the Etihad Stadium after Erling Haaland’s penalty ten minutes from time had put the hosts back ahead, but former Manchester City player Brahim Diaz equalised moments after being brought on before Jude Bellingham pilfered a 3-2 win with virtually the final touch. For Pep Guardiola, it must have felt awfully familiar, another implosion in a season full of them.
Until those final minutes, it had been an encouraging night for the Premier League club, producing an improved performance and twice going ahead. Haaland struck twice, his first beautifully constructed and firmly finished before the Norwegian converted from the penalty spot after Phil Foden had been felled. But one always feared that Manchester City’s defensive vulnerabilities might show up against a dynamic forward line, with Diaz and Bellingham adding to Kylian Mbappe’s initial equaliser to allow the hosts to take a one-goal lead into the second leg at the Bernabeu.
Re-live all of the action from the Etihad Stadium in our live blog below:
Manchester City 2-2 Real Madrid, 88 minutes
Pep Guardiola looks exasperated. Manchester City had done so well to seize control of the tie again and that was a soft, soft concession of the second goal.
GOAL! Manchester City 2-2 REAL MADRID (Brahim Diaz, 87 minutes)
Immediate impact! Brahim Diaz strikes against his former club!
It’s terrible goalkeeping from Ederson, putting his defenders under pressure with a dreadful pass. A shot from Vinicius Jr could perhaps have been dealt with better by the Brazilian, too, merely palming into the path of Diaz who volleys into the corner. Real Madrid are level again - how do they manage to do this so often in this competition?
Manchester City 2-1 Real Madrid, 84 minutes
Pep Guardiola exhausts his allocation of alterations. Kevin De Bruyne hands over the captain’s armband as he takes leave, with Savinho also off. On come a new boy in Omar Marmoush and an old hand in Ilkay Gundogan.
Carlo Ancelotti, meanwhile, sends on Brahim Diaz for Rodrygo, who has been pretty quiet in this half.
Manchester City 2-1 Real Madrid, 82 minutes
On comes Luka Modric into the Real Madrid midfield, a veteran schemer hoping to find another equaliser.
That really was a clumsy challenge from Dani Ceballos.
GOAL! MANCHESTER CITY 2-1 Real Madrid (Erling Haaland, 80 minutes)
Rolled in to the corner with real calm and composure!
Manchester City lead as Erling Haaland strikes for a second time. Thibaut Courtois went the wrong way, but might not have saved it anyway.
PENALTY! Manchester City 1-1 Real Madrid, 75 minutes
Penalty to Manchester City! Phil Foden shimmies and shakes free of Ferland Mendy, and Dani Ceballos clatters into him.
Was it inside the box? It looks like it is on the line but VAR will check...yep, it stands.
A bit of a worry for Manchester City as Foden remains down after a knock of knees. He hobbles away as Erling Haaland picks his spot...
Manchester City 1-1 Real Madrid, 75 minutes
Raul Asencio and Erling Haaland are summoned to the headmaster’s office after a bit of corridor pushing and shoving. Clement Turpin gives each a stern warning and sends them back to class.
Manchester City 1-1 Real Madrid, 73 minutes
City are starting to look frayed and ragged now, Mbappe a constant threat. It hasn't helped City that they have lost John Stones from midfield, with the Englishman back in defence now Nathan Ake has gone off. They look too open in midfield as a result and Real the stronger. They now seem the likelier winners if anyone goes to Madrid with an advantage.
Manchester City 1-1 Real Madrid, 71 minutes
A weave and then a dart into the Manchester City from Eduardo Camavinga, though his efforts are to no avail with a slightly tepid attempted shot. Blocked in comfort by a Manchester City defender.
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