MAN CITY 2, REAL MADRID 3
There was late heartbreak for Manchester City after they conceded two late goals as Real Madrid won the first leg of their Champions League play-off match.
It looked as though Pep Guardiola’s side would be heading to the Spanish capital with an advantage as they led 2-1 through a brace from Erling Haaland – Kylian Mbappe had netted for Real.
But it spectacularly unravelled in the closing minutes as ex-City starlet Brahim Diaz equalised for Real and then in stoppage time Jude Bellingham slid to score the winner and a first-ever victory at the Etihad at the seventh attempt – if you don’t count their penalty shootout win last season.
The late double were the sixth and seventh goals City have conceded in the Champions League this season in the final 15 minutes of matches.
Real, to their credit, created 20 goal attempts to City’s 11 as they played adventurous football on the front foot and would have felt hard done by to have left empty handed.
The loss leaves City needing to win in Madrid against the 15-times champions if they are to progress to the last 16.
It was the first time in 19 home Champions League matches that City had lost after leading at half-time – that was back in April 2018 when Liverpool triumphed at the Etihad.
City’s John Stones summed up his team’s pain, saying: “A few games after the Arsenal one, I don’t know how to put it into words straight away. It’s so raw and frustrating for everyone.
“We were in the game until so late and then it’s two situations that happen and we concede. It’s frustrating as a defender to come away with that result.
“It’s a feeling of anger and frustration. We need to see games out better. The manager said we need to take accountability for what we do on the pitch, I think we do that. We need to step up when these bad moments happen.
“Today we had a great opportunity to go to the Bernabeu with a 2-1 lead. It’s not done. We have to stay positive, which is difficult now.
“As the manager says we need to look at ourselves and take accountability.
“We were right on top at the start of the game, and we know Real have quality to come out in the second half. It is avoidable from us as the eleven on the pitch. We have to do better – it’s as simple as that.
“We have to keep a positive mentality and try to put it right.”
Embed from Getty ImagesGuardiola lamented another late collapse, adding: “The truth is that we are not stable enough – it has happened many times this season.
“I know the quality of Real Madrid. We took the game in the second half and tried to attack too quick. It happens because they [Real Madrid] are an exceptional team.
“It happens many times this season. Bad decisions, that’s all. I take it. It’s not about you and me, it’s everyone. Yeah, that is all season [injuries]. But we know it.”
Of City’s prospects for the return, Guardiola said: “Of course now it’s tough. We have less chance than when it was 2-1.
We have to recover. I think now about Newcastle and then go to the Bernabeu.”
Guardiola made eight changes from the side that beat Leyton Orient in the FA Cup last time out.
Stones was recalled in midfield. Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva started alongside him while Ederson returned in goal.
Jack Grealish kept his place having been in and out of the team this season. Savinho was preferred on the other wing with all of City’s new signings on the bench.
There were two changes for Real Madrid from the side that drew 1-1 against Atletico Madrid on Saturday.
In came Ferland Mendy and Eduardo Camavinga for the injured Lucas Vazquez and Fran Garcia.
Real’s attacking threat was clear in the early stages as they created some gilt-edged chances to move ahead.
Vinicius Junior burst through on goal only to be scythed down by keeper Edderson only to be saved by the Brazilian being flagged for offside.
He then turned provider setting up Kylian Mbappe whose effort was well blocked by Ederson.
City’s defence was caught out again, but Mendy’s effort was blocked on the line by Nathan Ake.
Then against the run of play, City took the lead in the 19th minute.
A move down the left saw Grealish’s cross chested down by Josko Gvardiol for Haaland to half volley beyond keeper Thibaut Courtois.
There was a lengthy VAR check for a possible offside – more than two agonising minutes – before the goal was finally given.
Real almost immediately levelled when Vinicius Junior cut in from the left and saw his effort crash against the crossbar after Ederson managed to deflect the shot on to the woodwork.
City were forced to make a change after half an hour when Grealish went off injured and was replaced by Phil Foden.
And Foden quickly had a chance to double the lead as his fiercely struck shot was parried behind for a corner by Courtois.
From that delivery, Manuel Akanji’s header clipped the top of the crossbar.
Real finished the opening period as Mbappe failed to hit the target with two efforts and Federico Valverde had a drive which narrowly cleared the bar.
City were forced to make a second change through injury at the restart as Akanji did not reappear as he was replaced by Rico Lewis.
Haaland almost doubled the lead after 33 seconds of the new half as he cut inside and his deflected shot on the turn struck the bar.
Real began to take control as Bellingham glanced a header narrowly wide and Mbappe brought a fine low save from Ederson before the equaliser arrived on the hour after Bernardo Silva needlessly conceded a free kick 27 yards from the City goal.
After the initial kick crashed into the defensive wall, the ball was recycled and Dani Ceballos crossed to Mbappe whose miscued volley off his knee looped beyond Ederson.
Real had chances to take the lead as Valverde’s drive was agonisingly wide and Bellingham’s shot kept out by the outstretched leg of Ederson.
Guardiola made another change as Ake was replaced by Mateo Kovacic.
City rode their luck and hit back winning a 77th minute penalty when Foden was felled by a hefty challenge by Ceballos and Haaland sent Courtois the wrong way from the spot for his 27th of the season.
Guardiola made two further switches with six minutes left as De Bruyne and Savinho were replaced by Ilkay Gundogan and Omar Marmoush.
City’s lead was short-lived as Real were level in the 86th minute through ex-City player Diaz who had only been on the field for two minutes.
Vinicius Junior’s initial shot was parried by Ederson but rebounded to wide man Diaz who made not mistake with a low shot into the far corner.
And there was worse to come as Real snatched victory in stoppage time when Vinicius Junior raced away on the left and as Ederson came sprinting from his goal, he lobbed the keeper with Bellingham sliding in to find the net from inside the six-yard box to provide a miserable ending to the evening which minutes earlier had looked destined to finish with joyous celebrations.