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 1-1 Real Madrid, 68 minutes
This scoreline would please Carlo Ancelotti, you’d think, with the second leg to come in Madrid and the possibility of getting a couple of defensive bodies back for that fixture.
Savinho earns a corner kick off the rump off Fede Valverde.
Manchester City 1-1 Real Madrid, 66 minutes
Another sighting for Jude Bellingham, the Real Madrid midfielder running beyond a lackadaisical Rico Lewis and rattling the legs of the Manchester City goalkeeper.
Manchester City 1-1 Real Madrid, 63 minutes
Mateo Kovacic was being readied before that goal. and Pep Guardiola presses ahead with the planned switch. Nathan Ake is the man off, leaving John Stones to slide one row backwards into central defence.
GOAL! Manchester City 1-1 REAL MADRID (Kylian Mbappe, 60 minutes)
A dreadful free kick but a goal nonetheless!
They all count! Fede Valverde sends his free kick right into the draught excluder underneath the wall, but the ball bounces back to the feet of the Real Madrid throng who had assembled to take the set piece. Dani Ceballos eyes up his options as Manchester City rush out, picking a lovely little chip through to Kylian Mbappe. Mbappe’s finish isn’t much better than Valverde produced, a hashed hack that flies up in the air off the side of his foot.
But in to the net it inexorably loops as Ederson sprawls expecting something rather firmer.
Manchester City 1-0 Real Madrid, 58 minutes
Kevin De Bruyne connects with Erling Haaland, though that is sterling work from Raul Asencio, forcing the Manchester City striker back and away and eventually out of the Real Madrid box. The youngster has looked pretty solid in there tonight.
At the other end, a lunging Bernardo Silva scythes into Dani Ceballos as the midfielder jinks. Free kick, relatively central, 25 yards out. Appetising.
Manchester City 1-0 Real Madrid, 57 minutes
It would appear more changes may be imminent as the two managers consider their options. Remember that there is a second leg to come - neither will be willing to risk being entirely out of the tie tonight, which may make this a cagier affair.
Manchester City 1-0 Real Madrid, 55 minutes
Kept out! Another real sniff for Real Madrid as Kylian Mbappe releases a snap shot after the ball breaks his way in the box. Ederson is in its path, reacting well to get his hands to it.
Manchester City 1-0 Real Madrid, 53 minutes
Guided wide! That’s a top chance for Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Jr skinning Rico Lewis and picking out the England midfielder just beyond the penalty spot. A flashing header skips wide of the post with Ederson motionless.
Manchester City 1-0 Real Madrid, 52 minutes
Manchester City slow the tempo, popping passes around the back in an attempt to draw Real Madrid out of shape. The visitors don’t oblige, and deal with the eventual forward pass rather easily.
Manchester City rattle the woodwork again
Busy night for the woodwork, hit three times, and the physios, with Akanji following Grealish in making an early departure. It makes for a huge second half for Rico Lewis, who is up against Vinicius Jr. He really struggled in similar circumstances when given a second half against Ousmane Dembele in Paris.
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