Real Madrid 3-1 Manchester City: Match review | OneFootball

Real Madrid emerged triumphant against Manchester City in the Champions League for the third time in four seasons as a terrific performance saw them clinch a 3-1 win at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday in the second leg of their playoff meeting. Having already had the first leg in the bag by a 3-2 margin, Carlo Ancelotti’s men secured a clinical 6-3 success on aggregate.

Los Blancos were on top right from the first whistle and needed only four minutes to widen their advantage. Raul Asencio’s superb ball over the top of the City midfield and defence was chased nicely by Kylian Mbappe, who chipped Ederson nonchalantly. Thereafter, it was all Real Madrid with the ball and in attack with a second goal coming less than 30 minutes later.

On the 33rd minute, Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo Goes combined on the right flank. Rodrygo played a short pass to Mbappe inside the box and after sitting Josko Gvardiol down, the 26-year-old unleashed a ferocious shot into the near post to double the home side’s advantage on the night. It was also 5-2 on aggregate at that point and closed the curtains on City’s hopes of a comeback.

For the remainder of the second half, Real Madrid were happy to dominate possession with a two-goal cushion on their side while Man City’s frustration and lack of creativity was crystal clear. Vinicius and Rodrygo were imperious on the flanks, while Federico Valverde, Antonio Rudiger, Raul Asencio and Ferland Mendy held the fort well in defence with Aurelien Tchouameni also impressing as the number six.

The Whites started the second half exactly how they began the first. There was a clear intent to kill the game off and after coming close to his hat-trick just before the hour mark off Valverde’s brilliant cross, Mbappe would find his third of the evening on the 61st minute.

A step-over to cut inside and left-footed finish from the edge of the area made it 3-0 and earned the Frenchman his third Champions League hat-trick, the first for Real Madrid in the competition and his maiden ever at the Santiago Bernabeu.

In the final half hour, the Merengues could have run riot if they played at the same intensity as they did in the first 60 minutes but were happy to keep things easy by dominating the ball. Ceballos, Mbappe, Tchouameni, Valverde and Vinicius all were substituted later on to standing ovations to cap off another magical night at the Bernabeu, while City got their consolation goal in stoppage time through Nico Gonzalez.

The former Porto star bagged his first for the Citizens since joining in the winter after Omar Marmoush’s free-kick hit the crossbar, allowing him to capitalise on a loose ball in the box. City’s goal had no major ramifications on the tie but it meant that Thibaut Courtois’ wait for a clean sheet against them extends with the Belgian awaiting the feat in spite of playing over 15 matches versus the Sky Blues in his career.

Real Madrid will learn of their opponents for the round of 16 on Friday, February 21st, and will face one of Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen. The first leg will be at the Bernabeu, while the decisive bout will take place at the BayArena or Civitas Metropolitano, depending on the draw.

Up next for Ancelotti’s charges is a La Liga clash at home versus Girona, against whom they will look to end a run of three winless games in the Spanish top-flight.