Should Manchester City have had any hope of living Champions League dreams into reality, this loss to Real Madrid at the Etihad Stadium denied them of any dream anticipation for the future. Haaland scored twice in the exciting game but was overshadowed when Jude Bellingham came up with a phenomenal late winner.
This fast-paced encounter kicked off with a bang with Haaland putting City ahead as early as the 19th minute but Kylian Mbappe equalized for Madrid in the 60th minute. And it was an uneventful fight until Brahim Diaz gave the visitors the advantage in the 86th minute. City responded back through Haaland from the spot in the 80th minute before Bellingham struck dramatics for Madrid.
A huge set back for Manchester City, as this defeat surely raises the bar for them to overcome in the return leg. Most certainly, City fans would take solace from the fighting spirit and resilience of the team which brought them through closely to Madrid until the very end.
Highlights of the Match:
– Haaland’s Double: Erling Haaland returned twice to score for City, including one penalty shot converted on the 80th minute.
– Mbappe’s equalizer: He scored in the 60th minute with a clever finish, bringing the score to a tie after two minutes had elapsed.
– Bellingham’s Winner: Jude Bellingham scored a stunning late winner to seal the win for Madrid.
Next up:
Next for Manchester City, Madrid now – and they will have to prepare to try to turn this tie. This is going to call for an effort of a lifetime for City, never mind the Champions League aspirations weighing heavily on them.
