Masterclass Mbappé, at the Santiago Bernabéu, rounded off a hat-trick and then Real Madrid obliterated Manchester City by a 3-1 margin, having already booked a ticket to the round of sixteen of the Champions Cup. This was to convert a first-leg loss by Los Blancos into a 2-1 win-over, winning it in aggregate at 4-3.
Mbappé in the Spotlight
It was the highly anticipated battle of Real Madrid, and from the jump, they put heavy pressure on making an adequate start to thwart the momentum built by City. Within just four minutes from the start, Mbappé proved that he had world-class finishing when he latched onto a beautifully timed pass from Jude Bellingham and beat the City’s goalkeeper by netting home past the line. If possible, the cheers from home would be heard across the sea and set the chain of events for the night.
Real Madrid had scored one more goal before Mbappé notched another in the 39th minute as he made the most of a quick counterattack with Vinícius Jr. who delivered a stunning cross giving the French player an easy chance to increase Madrid’s advantage. The difference was now at 2-0 in favor of Madrid going into half-time, effectively putting the tie in their favor.
Manchester City, masters in counter-attacking football, began their second-half dominance, but Madrid’s stubbornness at the back thwarted their intentions. The on-loan striker completed his hat trick in the 68th minute with a cool strike after the City backline had given away a defensive error. His goal had effectively sealed qualification for Madrid, leaving City with it all to do.
The City, earning a late consolation through Erling Haaland in the 75th minute, had their hopes of a comeback shut down by Madrid in the remainder of the game.
“Single Show,” Score run by Kylian Mbappé
Real’s investment in Mbappé last summer was shrouded with high hopes that this performance would order his proclamation as the club’s new shining star. His first Champions League hat-trick for Madrid stimulated the audience’s thoughts of Cristiano Ronaldo’s significant performances in similar high-stakes situations.
Manager Carlo Ancelotti hailed his own men for their tactfulness and resilience, remarking on their ability to withstand pressure atop the world’s bleeding edge. Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola lamented the inability of his squad to adapt themselves to Madrid’s intensity, nor did they find any means of readdressing it in moments of attack.
Prospects Ahead
Real Madrid’s triumph sends an unequivocal signal to the rest of Europe, as the 14-time holders chase a record 15th title of Europe’s elite football tournament. With a form resurgence, Los Blancos have become a side to reckon with in the further knock-out stages, while City, another time, must regroup and refocus its attention onto their domestic challenge.