Real Madrid vs Man City LIVE: Pep Guardiola’s men knocked out of Champions League after Mbappe hat-trick
Real Madrid 3-1 Man City (6-3 agg): Mbappe’s goals send Madrid through as City eliminated from Europe
Manchester City are out. They were never really in it. Pep Guardiola’s men were eliminated before the Champions League last-16 phase by a dominant and exceptional Real Madrid.
The hosts had a one-goal after their comeback win at the Etihad and they never looked like giving it up. A first half which saw City create just one shot at goal was summed up by Kylian Mbappe scoring twice.
The first was from a simple long ball. Mbappe nipped in behind Ruben Dias then lobbed Ederson who was off his line. The second was world class. Fed the ball inside the box, he cut inside of Josko Gvardiol, left the defender on the floor and rolled it past the goalkeeper.
After the break Mbappe scored his third. Left too much space on the edge of the box, he beat Phil Foden and guided a left-footed strike into the far bottom corner.
Nico Gonzalez scored a late consolation goal but City were to slow, too timid, and lacking in belief to spring a shock result on the 15x champions. Instead, Real march into the next round and look like favourites to win the tournament once more.
Relive the Champions League updates from our live blog below:
Pep Guardiola sends message to Real Madrid over criticism of referees
Pep Guardiola has told Real Madrid to back off the referees as their complaints over Jude Bellingham’s recent sending off continue to rumble.
England international Bellingham was dismissed for foul language in Real’s weekend LaLiga draw at Osasuna after apparently swearing in the direction of the referee.
Pep Guardiola sends message to Real Madrid over criticism of referees
Guardiola weighs in on Bellingham ban
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said the translation of Jude Bellingham’s comments were not the issue wih his confrontation with a referee during Real Madrid’s last LaLiga game.
"My English is good, but I don't understand the difference between f*** off and f*** you," Guardiola said ahead of the second leg of the two teams’ Champions League play-off tie.
"But what's important is the intention, not the insult. The best thing is not to do it and leave the referees in peace.
"There have always been decisions. You should ask Jude what his intention was. That's what matters.
"Maybe you can insult someone with a great smile on your face and that wouldn't be that bad, right?"
Jude Bellingham banned for ‘disrespect towards referee’
Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham has been handed a two-game domestic ban following his red card at Osasuna on Saturday.
The England international was shown a straight red card for abusive language by referee Jose Luis Munuera Montero, but denied swearing towards him.
Bellingham was quoted after the 1-1 draw explaining that his red card was a “misunderstanding”, and he was backed by Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti.
"I think the referee did not understand Jude Bellingham's English,” Ancelotti explained. “He said f*** off, not f*** you... that's way different.”
Carragher on Rodri banner made by Man City fans
During the coverage on Man City’s first leg against Real Madrid on Paramount+, Jamie Carragher spoke about a banner of Rodri which mocked Vinicius Jr. It was made by the Man City fans to wind up the Real Madrid forward for losing out on winning the Ballon d’Or.
Carrager said: "It's absolutely ridiculous, we love a laugh and a joke, but what do you gain from that? Why annoy people? Wind somebody up? Do it at the end when you knock them out.
“I don't know what you get out of it? It's not funny tonight, you just got beat. If I were a Man City player, that would annoy me, it's like a jinx. I don't like stuff like that. Why wind up some of the best players in the world?
“You should act like the proper club, everybody laughed at Real Madrid for not going to the Ballon d'Or. It was embarrassing for a club like Real Madrid. Man City shouldn't resort to what they're doing, show some class, a big banner, oh my god.”
Jamie Carragher hits out at Man City fans over pre-match banner vs Real Madrid: ‘Absolutely ridiculous’
Jamie Carragher hit out at Manchester City fans over a tifo designed to antagonise Real Madrid before their Champions League playoff.
City supporters revealed a banner with Rodri, who beat out Madrid’s Vinicius Jr for the Ballon d’Or, adding the words in reference to an Oasis song: “Stop crying your heart out.”
Vinicius Jr won the player of the match award as Los Blancos stormed back to win 3-2 at the Etihad Stadium before next week’s second leg.
Jamie Carragher hits out at ‘ridiculous’ Man City fans for banner vs Real Madrid
First leg photos
Here’s a selection of the best photos from the first leg to wet your whistle for tonight’s main event
What happened at the Etihad?
As soon as this tie was announced the fans knew it would be an exciting affair.
The first leg at the Etihad stadium proved to be so.
Erling Haaland sent the hosts into the lead with 19 minutes on the clock and City did well to repel the constant pressure from Real.
The pressure buckled in the 60th minute as Kylian Mbappe slotted in an equaliser. Pep Guardiola’s side went back ahead 20 minutes later as Haaland converted a penalty but old demons resurfaced.
City have a problem letting in lat goals against Madrid and they did so again with Brahim Diaz making the match 2-2 before Jude Bellingham won it in stoppage time.
Real now take a 3-2 aggregate lead to the Bernabeu and City moust come from behind in order to get through.
How previous meetings have ended
Encounters between Real Madrid and Manchester City tend to be lively affairs with some of the Champions League most memorable matches, of recent times, coming when they meet.
Madrid won at the Etihad last time out but before then the two sides played out back-to-back draws in April 2024.
Real went through via a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw in the second leg at the Etihad but it is the first leg City will be more focused on.
They drew that game 3-3 at the Bernabeu and, with Pep Guardiola’s men in need of goals tonight, they’ll take heart from that result and know they can put plenty of goals past their opponents.
The true impact of Man City’s Rodri banner and what it revealed about Real Madrid
As soon as Vinicius Junior had Manchester City’s Rodri banner explained to him, his facial expression changed. He duly went and changed the first leg for Real Madrid, securing a 3-2 lead.
Given these super clubs are these days so obsessed with projection and image, for many different reasons, it is perhaps fitting that a mere banner has so influenced the tie.
The wonder is what Madrid themselves come up with, since giant tifos are organised for the ultra end for every major Champions League game. Famous last words, perhaps, but they are unlikely to think of anything like City’s.
The true impact of Man City’s Rodri banner and what it revealed about Real Madrid
Real Madrid vs Man City prediction
Man City’s win over Newcastle showed that they are still capable of brilliant performances, though Madrid have become experts at winning matches in this competition.
It looks unlikely that City will have enough to grab an away win to overturn the deficit from the first leg meaning the 15x champions should get through.
It’ll be a close one though.
Real Madrid 1-1 Manchester City.
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