S Poddar
Real Madrid pulled off a dramatic 3-2 victory over Manchester City in the first leg of their Champions League play-off at the Etihad Stadium. The match saw City twice take the lead, only to be undone by a stunning late turnaround, with Jude Bellingham netting the decisive goal in stoppage time.
Manchester City appeared to be in control after Erling Haaland’s two goals, including a late penalty, seemed to have sealed the win. However, their hopes were shattered in the final minutes as Real Madrid capitalized on defensive errors. Brahim Diaz equalized against his former club before Bellingham struck the winner, leaving Pep Guardiola’s side with an uphill task ahead of the return leg at the Bernabeu.
The game started at a frenetic pace, with Real Madrid showing early attacking intent. Vinicius Junior was a constant threat, testing City’s defense and drawing fouls. At one point, he was brought down in the box, but an offside call ruled out any penalty claims. City responded with a disciplined defensive effort, highlighted by a crucial block from Nathan Ake to deny a dangerous opportunity.
Jack Grealish played a key role in City’s opening goal, delivering a perfectly weighted pass to Josko Gvardiol, who set up Haaland for the finish. The goal stood after a VAR check, sparking celebrations among the home fans. City gained momentum, but Madrid remained resilient, forcing key saves from Ederson while also hitting the post through Vinicius and Manuel Akanji.
The visitors found their equalizer early in the second half, albeit in fortunate fashion. Kylian Mbappe scuffed his volley, but the mis-hit effort wrong-footed Ederson and found the net. Despite the setback, City showed their attacking quality once again. Phil Foden’s quick feet created an opening, and Haaland remained composed to restore the lead with his second goal of the night from the penalty spot.
The closing moments of the match, however, proved disastrous for City. Ederson, attempting to launch a quick attack, misplaced a pass that fell straight to Bellingham. The midfielder wasted no time in setting up Vinicius, whose shot was initially saved but rebounded perfectly for Diaz to slot home. With the score level at 2-2, Real Madrid smelled blood.
In stoppage time, Vinicius pounced on a mistake from Rico Lewis, stealing possession before chipping the ball over Ederson. The effort was veering off target until Bellingham, showing his trademark determination, arrived just in time to guide it into the net. City, stunned and deflated, could do nothing but watch as the Spanish giants celebrated their late triumph.
Madrid’s ability to capitalize on mistakes and stay composed under pressure highlighted why they remain a dominant force in Europe. The outcome was particularly harsh on City, who had played well for large stretches but faltered at crucial moments. Guardiola’s men now face an enormous challenge in the second leg, needing to overturn the deficit at the Santiago Bernabeu to keep their Champions League hopes alive.
City’s performance highlighted both their strengths and weaknesses. While they showed attacking quality and resilience, their defensive lapses proved costly. Real Madrid, on the other hand, demonstrated their never-say-die attitude, refusing to accept defeat even when facing setbacks. The second leg promises to be another intense battle, with City now needing to produce something special to turn the tie around.
With 90 minutes still to play, anything can happen, but this result firmly places Madrid in the driver’s seat. Guardiola and his team will have to regroup and find a way to rediscover the dominance that has made them one of Europe’s elite in recent years. The road to the quarter-finals just got a lot tougher for the English champions.
