Real Madrid 3-1 Manchester City (agg 6-3): Mesmeric Mbappe nets hat-trick as Champions League holders book last-16 spot | OneFootball

Real Madrid brushed aside Manchester City 3-1 in Wednesday’s Champions League meeting at the Santiago Bernabeu to claim a 6-2 triumph on aggregate tonight.

Holding a 3-2 lead from last week’s first leg, Carlo Ancelotti’s men had their task made a bit easier by Erling Braut Haaland’s absence, but it was City who started the game on the front foot.

Madrid went ahead through Kylian Mbappe as he latched on to an inch-perfect pass from Raul Asencio before producing a deft finish past Ederson.

Man City were dealt a further blow with John Stones having to come off due to an injury. Nathan Ake replaced the defender.

Madrid started to see more of the ball after surrendering the lion’s share of possession during the early exchanges.

Mbappe latched onto another ball over the top, but his effort was dealt with by Ederson just shy of the half-hour mark.

He would not be denied in the 33rd minute when he showed great composure to sit Josko Gvardiol down in the box and finish off a lovely team move.

City struggled to string together any move of real attacking intent and headed into the dressing room in need of a miracle.

Madrid enjoyed a near-perfect opening 45 minutes with the exception of a needless yellow card for Jude Bellingham, who will miss the first leg of the last-16 tie.

Los Blancos showed no signs of taking their foot off the gas as they pressed forward in search of more goals after the break.

Rodrygo took two pops at City’s goal less than five minutes apart, the first of which flew over the bar, while the second forced Ederson into a seemingly awkward save.

Ederson was called into action moments later to deny Mbappe a third goal, although it would have been ruled out for offside.

Mbappe took a knock in the aforementioned phase of play and required some treatment.

However, he went on to complete his hat-trick shortly after returning to the pitch with a low left-footed drive to take his Champions League tally for the campaign to seven in 10 matches.

Mbappe was in on the act again 20 minutes from time, producing a mazy run to set up Vinicius Junior, but his effort was blocked from point-blank range.

Vinicius was arguably Madrid’s best attacker in the first leg but cut a more peripheral figure this time around, although he called Ederson into action in the 74th minute.

Mbappe was substituted to a standing ovation from the Madrid faithful, who saw their marquee signing produce arguably his best performance for the club.

City started to conjure up some attacking threat in the final stages. Phil Foden, Mateo Kovacic and Adbukodir Khusanov all forced fine saves from Thibaut Courtois.

Courtois will have been disappointed not to have come away with a clean sheet as he was beaten with almost the final kick of the game by Nico Gonzalez.

That was a rare blemish on an otherwise perfect night for Real Madrid, who will now take on either Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen in the last-16.