Real Madrid knocked Manchester City out of the Champions League. Carlo Ancelotti's team completely outplayed the "citizens" and won 3:1 in the second leg of the tournament's playoffs, sportal.bg reported.
After the success in the first leg, the "whites" reached a total score of 6:3. At the "Santiago Bernabeu", Kylian Mbappe was above everyone, who scored a hat-trick. He opened the scoring in the fourth minute, scored again in the 33rd and then in the 61st. Nico Gonzalez scored a consolation goal for the visitors in added time.
Pep Guardiola's team failed to resist the opponent in any way. The Spanish coach could not rely on his top scorer Erling Haaland, who remained on the bench along with Kevin De Bruyne. The 2023 European champions showed that they are no longer the same team and were logically eliminated. Real, on the other hand, await the draw for the round of 16 on Friday, as the team will face Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen in the next phase.
The match began with active actions from the visitors, who had a lot of possession and tried high pressing. However, Guardiola's plan had to undergo changes in the fourth minute. A long pass from Raul Asensio found Mbappe in a great position and he beautifully passed Ederson. The ball reached the Frenchman after a clumsy tackle by Ruben Dias, who failed to play the ball. The situation for the "citizens" worsened seconds later, as John Stones was injured and had to be replaced, and Nathan Ake came on in his place.
The situation for the "citizens" worsened seconds later, as John Stones was injured and had to be replaced, and Manuel Akanji came on in his place. After a few minutes, in which the guests could recover from the negative development for them, they started to keep the ball for longer periods again. Ancelotti's team had no problem with this and managed to organize good attacks when they got the ball. Mbappe's shot went wide of the goal after a ricochet.
Manchester City were unable to create anything in the forward positions, and had serious problems in front of their goal. Khusanov, who played as a right-back, had to deal with Vinicius and was having difficulty. Real were playing confidently and looking for a second goal. In one situation, Mbappe found himself with the ball in the penalty area. He decided to pass instead of shooting, but his pass to Valverde was intercepted. In the 29th minute, the French star was again brought into a good position. This time his shot was blocked by Ederson.
The dominance of the "Whites" was serious and the visitors' defense cracked fatally for the second time in the 33rd minute. Then Bellingham brought Vinicius out on the right, and he passed to the area where Rodrygo and Mbappe were. After some hesitation, the Brazilian took the ball and passed it to the Frenchman, who feinted and sent the ball into the net. This goal completely cooled the enthusiasm of the "citizens" and Real calmly controlled the match.
After the break, nothing changed. Ancelotti's team dominated, and Manchester City's players had no clear idea how to counter or threaten the home team's goal. Rodrygo tried two shots from distance. The first went wide of the target, and the second the ball bounced off Ederson. Guardiola intervened decisively after a sharp cross from Valverde.
In the 58th minute, Mbappe came very close to a hat-trick. He intercepted Valverde's cross, but Ederson made a brilliant save. The French star collided with the goalkeeper and worried the Real headquarters, but showed that he was ready to continue playing. A little later, Kylian completed his hat-trick. He was given too much space around the edge of the penalty area and with a precise shot sent the ball into the bottom right corner of Ederson.
After the third goal, Guardiola's team completely despaired. The home team's attacks continued to be dangerous. Vinicius tried several shots. Once he was blocked by Dias, the next time the ball went wide of the goal, and in the 75th minute he was stopped by a magnificent save by Ederson. The visitors revived. Fowden's shot from distance was saved by Courtois, and Bernardo Silva shot over the goal.
There were more chances in the last part of the match. Rodrigo shot parvo at the goalkeeper, and Courtois stopped Khusanov in front of the other goal. In added time, City reached an honorary goal. Marmoush executed a beautiful foul, the ball hit the post and went to the feet of Nico Gonzalez, who sent it into the empty net.
REAL MADRID - MANCHESTER CITY 3:1
1:0 - Mbappe (4)
2:0 - Mbappe (33)
3:0 - Mbappe (61)
3:1 - Nico Gonzalez (90+2)