Manchester City 2 Real Madrid 3: City player ratings as Manchester City throw it away once again | OneFootball

Manchester City 2 (Erling Haaland 19′, 80 P’)

Real Madrid 3 (Kylian Mbappe 60′, Brahim Diaz 86′, Jude Bellingham 92′)

Here are the City player ratings as Manchester City went down 3-2 to Real Madrid at the Etihad. The story of the game was Manchester City’s late collapse, as ridiculous errors from Ederson and Mateo Kovacic cost their team dearly. Eyebrows were raised when the City starting lineup was announced, but for a large portion of the first half, Pep Guardiola’s plan worked.

But as the second half wore on City’s legs faltered. Too many players were underdone, and in the end, it cost Pep Guardiola’s side. Real Madrid was the better team in the second half, and although Erling Haaland gave City the lead late on, it was against the run of play. City’s mistakes gifted Real Madrid the win but Pep Guardiola’s side only have themselves to blame.

They will need a monumental effort to overturn the deficit next week and you get the sense that this group of players aren’t capable of lifting themselves off the canvas. But time will tell after another disappointing collapse from Manchester City. The City player ratings are harsh on several City players but you can’t tell the story of several of City’s players performance late on in the City player ratings if you don’t factor that into the equation.

First half

The game kicked off with both teams having spells of possession before Real Madrid came to life in the 11th minute. First Ederson denied Kylian Mbappe after some neat play from Vinicius Junior played in Mbappe. Moments later, Nathan Ake made a desperate goal-line clearance to prevent Ferland Mendy from giving Real Madrid the lead. But the threat of Real Madrid getting behind City’s defence was obvious to see in the game’s opening stages.

Erling Haaland breaks his duck against Real Madrid!!!!

In the 19th minute, Manchester City would take the lead. Some brilliant play from Josko Gvardiol set up the move as it was his ball that set Haaland on his way. Haaland played a ball back to Grealish, who played a ball over the top of the Real Madrid defence back to Gvardiol, who chested the ball down for Haaland to give Manchester City the lead. After a lengthy VAR check, the goal was finally confirmed as the Etihad was rocking after the goal.

Vinicius Junior hit the crossbar with a deflected strike in the 25th minute as Real Madrid looked to respond to Haaland’s goal. But what was apparent was that the Manchester City players were up for the occasion based on their desperation in a challenge.

After Phil Foden replaced the injured Jack Grealish he saw a fine effort from outside the box well saved by Thibaut Courtois in the 35th minute. But it was clear that Pep Guardiola’s side was growing into the game after a prolonged spell of possession.

In the 43rd minute, Federico Valverde fired over the bar for Real Madrid from just outside the area. But the spell of Madrid pressure did come from an error from Nathan Ake moments earlier.

Manchester City would take a 1-nil lead into the interval but two late chances to Kylian Mbappe were a warning for Pep Guardiola’s side to take into halftime after an enthralling first half.

Second half

Rico Lewis replaced the injured Manuel Akanji at halftime and Erling Haaland almost made it 2-nil within a minute of the restart. His deflected strike hit the crossbar with Courtois stranded in the Madrid goal.

Real Madrid had their first chances of the second half in the 53rd and 54th minutes. First Jude Bellingham headed wide from a good position after a teasing ball from Vinicius Junior. Then Kylian Mbappe was denied by Ederson from a good position as Real Madrid looked to up the ante.

Kylian Mbappe equalises for Real Madrid.

Real Madrid would equalise in the 60th minute. A free kick on the edge of the City area was blocked by the Manchester City wall. The ball fell to Dani Ceballos, whose ball found Kylian Mbappe, and his mis-hit volley looped past Ederson to make it 1-all. But in truth that goal had been coming. Following the goal Mateo Kovacic replaced Nathan Ake with John Stones dropping back into defence.

Ederson denied Jude Bellingham in the 66th minute with a smart save. But what was becoming apparent was that Real Madrid was getting on top, and Manchester City’s legs did appear to be wilting. Pep Guardiola’s side needed to lift in the game’s final stages.

Phil Foden earns City a penalty and Erling Haaland restores City’s lead.

After a spell of Manchester City possession, Phil Foden earned his team a penalty. Some quick feet from Foden got him into the area and Dani Ceballos clattered Foden to give Erling Haaland the chance to restore City’s lead from the penalty spot. Haaland calmly converted the spot kick to make it 2-1 for Pep Guardiola’s side.

Real Madrid equalise after a poor clearance from Ederson.

Out of nothing Real Madrid would equalise through Brahim Diaz. It was a poor clearance from Ederson which set Ruben Dias a tough task in midfield. From there Vinicius Junior was played in and Ederson saved his shot. But the rebound fell to Brahim Diaz to tap in to make it 2-all. But the entire passage of play wasn’t Ederson’s finest moment and it cost his team dearly.

Manchester City shoot themselves in the foot once again.

Jude Bellingham would give Real Madrid a 3-2 lead in the second minute of injury time. A poor backpass from Mateo Kovacic sold Rico Lewis short. Vinicius Junior nipped in and took the ball from Lewis. His chip over a stranded Ederson went wide but Jude Bellingham was on hand to give Real Madrid the lead. But once again as we have seen time and time again this season Manchester City shot themselves in the foot with two poor errors late in the game. It has cost City all season and did once again tonight.

At the final whistle, Real Madrid would take a 3-2 lead back to the Bernabeu. But in truth, Pep Guardiola’s side caused their own downfall and have left themselves a mountain to climb in the second leg next week.

Summary

The City player ratings reflect the manner of City’s collapse. Several players didn’t cover themselves in glory in the games closing stages and that cost Manchester City dearly.

City player ratings

Ederson-3/10: Up until the game’s final 5 minutes, Ederson was brilliant as he made several crucial saves. But then his poor clearance led to City’s collapse. Unfortunately, his poor final 10 minutes cost his team the game.

Manuel Akanji-6/10: Did all he could at right-back before being substituted at halftime due to injury. He had a tough time up against Vinicius Junior, but he did his job.

Ruben Dias-6.5/10: Did all he could at the back, but even his leadership couldn’t save his team from themselves.

Nathan Ake-7/10: Made several crucial blocks before being substituted. A good performance from Ake. His team faltered defensively when he went off the pitch.

Josko Gvardiol-7/10: A good performance from Gvardiol. Was dangerous in possession and defended well.

John Stones-8/10: City’s man-of-the-match alongside Erling Haaland. He dictated the midfield battle, and you could say the decision to shift him out of midfield cost his team dearly.

Kevin De Bruyne-5/10: Had moments and never stopped working but couldn’t affect the game as he would’ve liked.

Bernardo Silva-5/10: Tried hard as usual but didn’t have a big influence on the game.

Savinho-8/10: He gets such a high mark for his work all over the pitch. He didn’t have many moments going forward but his defensive work was superb.

Jack Grealish-6.5/10: Grealish looked set for a big game until injury struck. It was his ball that led to City’s opener and just as he gets a run of games his body let him down.

Erling Haaland-8/10: Scored a brace as he finally broke his duck against Real Madrid. He never stopped trying, and on another night, he could’ve won the game for Manchester City.

Substitutes

Phil Foden-7/10: Came on for Grealish in the first half and put himself about. Earned City a penalty which Haaland converted.

Rico Lewis- 4/10: I can’t judge Lewis harshly for Real Madrid’s third goal as Kovacic sold him up the river. Made a couple of crucial challenges.

Mateo Kovacic-3/10: He came on to try and give City control in midfield, but instead, he offered the exact opposite. His poor backpass/clearance gifted Real Madrid their third goal and that summed up his cameo off the bench. A poor display.

Ilkay Gundogan-N/A: Not on long enough to mark.

Omar Marmoush-N/A: Not on long enough to mark.