Thrilling Clash: Jude Bellingham Secures Last-Minute Victory for Real Madrid Over Manchester City

Real Madrid clinched a dramatic victory over Manchester City at the Etihad, scoring two late goals to secure a pivotal advantage as they head back to Spain for the return leg of their Champions League playoff.

Pep Guardiola’s team squandered a 2-1 lead with just four minutes remaining, as substitute Brahim Diaz, a former City player, leveled the match, closely followed by Jude Bellingham, sealing an incredible comeback for the visitors.

City initially took control of the game twice, courtesy of two goals from Erling Haaland. The Norwegian striker opened the scoring in the 19th minute, with his effort confirmed after a lengthy VAR review lasting nearly four minutes.

Kylian Mbappe equalized for Madrid with a fortunate volley on the hour mark, but Haaland quickly responded by converting a penalty after Phil Foden had been fouled by Dani Ceballos.

The match witnessed late-game excitement, as Diaz and Bellingham struck decisively to give Carlo Ancelotti’s squad the upper hand in this two-legged contest. The winner of this playoff will advance to the Champions League’s round of 16.

Our analysts break down the main highlights from this exhilarating encounter at the Etihad…

How did City let this slip?

Guardiola remarked that facing Real Madrid was a fitting challenge for Manchester City, who narrowly made it to the Champions League playoffs with only three wins in their last eight matches. Upon reflection, he might concede that they once again fell short after allowing two late goals, which now leaves them with a considerable task in the second leg.

At the 80-minute mark, City held a 2-1 lead thanks to Haaland’s penalty—his second goal of the night—marking a display of resilience against a Madrid team that had appeared more cohesive and threatening for much of the match.

However, City ultimately undermined their own efforts, and when it comes to the Champions League, few teams are as adept at capitalizing on mistakes as Real Madrid. City’s goalkeeper Ederson misplayed a clearance leading to Diaz’s equalizer in the 86th minute, with Bellingham securing the win in stoppage time after Vinicius Junior outmaneuvered Rico Lewis to regain possession following a loose pass from Mateo Kovacic.

This result positions Real Madrid as strong contenders for the second leg at the Bernabeu next Wednesday. City have struggled throughout the season with inconsistency, and they will need an outstanding performance to avoid being eliminated from the Champions League’s round of 16 for the first time since the 2012-13 season.

Oli Kay

How close was the Haaland offside decision?

The Etihad erupted in cheers when Haaland put City ahead with a left-footed finish after receiving a chest pass from Josko Gvardiol. It wasn’t until nearly four minutes later that the stadium buzzed again, confirming the goal was valid thanks to the Champions League’s semi-automated offside technology.

While Gvardiol was clearly onside when the initial cross was played, he and Haaland had positioned themselves past the Madrid defenders by the time the Croatia defender made contact. Haaland was onside as long as he remained level with or behind Gvardiol, but the lengthy VAR check highlighted just how close the call was.

The technology effectively eliminates human error by capturing real-time images from multiple cameras. It made its debut in the Champions League during the 2022-23 season and was utilized in the 2022 World Cup. The Premier League also plans to adopt it this season, promising to reduce delays in offside checks by 31 seconds.

However, this instance showcased how long these marginal decisions can take. Alan Shearer pointed out during the Amazon Prime UK commentary that the wait might have inconvenienced elite players who stood around for nearly four minutes. “It’s not ideal for athletes to be inactive for so long,” he noted. “It’s simply unacceptable.” This incident illustrates that timing will continue to be a factor in these close calls, despite the correct decision being reached in the end.

Elias Burke

Madrid’s shaky defense raises concerns again

Madrid began the match brightly, staging three clear attacking moves in the initial 15 minutes while looking to exploit gaps in City’s defense.

However, it was Madrid’s own vulnerable backline that first suffered consequences. Haaland managed to find the net with barely any prior involvement in the game.

With Federico Valverde, filling in at right back, pressing forward, both of Madrid’s center-backs—former midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni and young academy graduate Raul Asencio—were drawn towards Haaland, leaving the striker unattended. He adeptly linked up with Jack Grealish before finishing with power from Gvardiol’s assist.

Although the goal was well-executed and the offside decision razor-thin, Madrid’s makeshift defense was clearly disorganized.

Earlier, Ancelotti referred to a “total emergency” on the defensive front due to injuries affecting key players like Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao, Antonio Rudiger, David Alaba, and Lucas Vazquez.

Despite these challenges being evident throughout the season, the club’s decision not to recruit any defensive reinforcements during January remains puzzling. Nevertheless, this once again failed to impede their end-to-end game as they ultimately found Bellingham for that late winner.

Dermot Corrigan

Mbappe seems to be finding his rhythm

Kylian Mbappe experienced a frustrating first half-season at Real Madrid, filled with both impressive moments and significant disappointments.

He displayed some of this inconsistency in the first half, misfiring two notable chances, including a shot straight at Ederson and another miss just before halftime from 12 yards with no defenders nearby.

Yet, this time, Mbappe delivered a crucial equalizer, marking his second in just four days and highlighting his growing impact in the squad.

Last Saturday at the Bernabeu, he capitalized on a saved shot from Bellingham and managed to score with a volley that caught Atletico’s Jan Oblak off-guard. This match saw him also create his own luck, smartly positioning himself to connect with Dani Ceballos’ expertly weighted pass. Although his volley bounced awkwardly off his shin and arced over Ederson for the goal, they all count—especially after a rocky start at Madrid, and now it appears he is delivering on the big occasions needed.

Dermot Corrigan

Haaland breaks Madrid curse but doesn’t clinch victory

Haaland had previously struggled against Madrid, including during the treble-winning season when he was largely silent in their prior encounters, and even faced his father being ejected from an executive suite for inappropriate behavior towards Madrid fans.

While defenders like Antonio Rudiger have often kept him in check, he proved challenging for them on Tuesday, perhaps due to Madrid’s ongoing defensive issues.

Clearly motivated for this match, Haaland contributed significantly, whether through winning headers on corners or pressuring Thibaut Courtois upfront. His initial goal—it was his first against Madrid in five attempts—was well-earned, and he expertly converted a penalty despite a lengthy wait for the chance.

Particularly for a City squad that’s been beleaguered recently, he remains their foremost scoring threat. Without his input, they would have struggled considerably, yet, unfortunately for City, his efforts couldn’t prevent the late capitulation.

Sam Lee

What did Pep Guardiola express?

“We’ve encountered this scenario multiple times this season,” Guardiola shared with Amazon Prime. “I acknowledge the talent of Real Madrid. We controlled the game in the second half but opted to attack too rapidly. When facing a team like them, it’s a common occurrence.”

“Bad decisions have often defined our season. I accept that. It isn’t just about you or me; it involves everyone.”

Carlo Ancelotti’s reflections

“I anticipated this challenge; it was a complete team effort,” Ancelotti remarked at his post-match press briefing. “For a long while, we questioned our ability to achieve balance with this team, but we showcased today that we can win through collective sacrifice. The quality of our squad is indisputable.”

“I don’t believe this tie is settled. We’ve taken a slight lead, but it was certainly a commendable performance. City presents many challenges offensively. We need to prepare thoroughly for the return match, keeping in mind that experiences like these will only make us stronger.”