The Englishman and the former City academy graduate grabbed late goals to produce yet another remarkable European turnaround
A late winner from Jude Bellingham concluded a hectic game that also saw Kylian Mbappe and Brahim Diaz find the net as Real Madrid came from behind twice to beat Manchester City 3-2 in the first leg of their Champions League play-off tie. The England midfielder found the net in the 93rd minute to complete an unlikely – but ever so predictable – comeback.
Los Blancos should have taken the lead inside 10 minutes when Mbappe found Ferland Mendy in front of goal, but the left-back squandered his shot from close range. He was made to pay soon after, too, as Erling Haaland swept a Josko Gvardiol lay-off into the far corner to give City a 1-0 lead. Mbappe had a good chance of his own on the stroke of half-time, but swept his shot over the bar despite being in acres of space in the box.
Bellingham had a good chance early in the second half, heading wide after some individual inspiration from Vinicius Jr, before Mbappe found the equaliser, as he scuffed a volley into the far corner from a Dani Ceballos cross. Bellingham should have made it 2-1 soon after, only to be denied by a save from Ederson.
They were made to pay after 80 minutes, when Ceballos clipped Phil Foden in the box, and Haaland made no mistake from the penalty spot. There was another twist, though, as Brahim steered home a late equaliser after an Ederson blunder before Bellingham latched onto Vinicius' weak effort to score the winner in stoppage time.
GOAL rates Real Madrid's players from the Etihad…
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Thibaut Courtois (6/10):
Made a few good saves. Couldn't do anything about either goal.
Federico Valverde (7/10):
Put in a shift defensively and was active going forward, too.
Aurelien Tchouameni (5/10):
Turned in a rather mixed performance at the back. Nowhere for City's opener.
Raul Asencio (6/10):
Covered space well at times, but doesn't have the best relationship with Mendy in the channel.
Ferland Mendy (7/10):
Squandered a good chance early on, but handled himself well defensively.
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Dani Ceballos (5/10):
Assisted Mbappe's equaliser, but then gave away a penalty with a silly challenge.
Eduardo Camavinga (7/10):
Full of energy and industry in midfield in his return from injury. Class.
Jude Bellingham (8/10):
Defensive work rate couldn't be faulted, and he was good on the ball at times. Didn't offer much at all going forward. That is, until he buried the late winner.
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Rodrygo (5/10):
Lost his composure in the final third at times, and didn't create much. A really poor showing after an excellent run of form.
Vinicius Jr (7/10):
Really mixed. Nowhere in the first half but immense in the second. Technically assisted the winner.
Kylian Mbappe (8/10):
Got an earful off his manager repeatedly for not tracking back. Bagged the equaliser – even if he entirely mishit his volley. Involved in the other two, too.
AFPSubs & Manager
Luka Modric (N/A):
No time to make an impact.
Brahim Diaz (7/10):
Came off the bench to grab an equaliser – somehow.
Fran Garcia (N/A):
Late legs and not much else.
Carlo Ancelotti (8/10):
Injury ravaged at the back, which had knock-on effects everywhere. Madrid were woeful at times, excellent at others, and deadly when it mattered. The Champions League voodoo lives on…
