BY: OSABUOHIEN IMUETINYANOSA
Manchester City have sensationally crashed out of the Champions League with Kylian Mbappe and Real Madrid blowing away the four-time reigning English Premier League champions at the Bernabeu.
Manchester City lost for the 13th time, in 2024/25 as Kylian Mbappe ran riot for Real Madrid in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League knockout phase playoffs.
Trailing 3-2 after their calamitous late collapse in the first leg back in Manchester, City already faced an uphill task at the Bernabeu, and it didn’t take long for their challenge to become that little bit more difficult.
Mbappe’s fourth-minute goal saw Pep Guardiola’s Premier League champions go behind inside 10 minutes for the ninth time this season in all competitions.
And the relative ease with which the Frenchman scored, lobbing a stranded Ederson after Ruben Dias failed to deal with Raul Asencio’s ball over the top, was just as frustratingly familiar for the visitors.
The unstoppable Mbappe toyed with a disorganised defence for each of his next two goals, as City conceded three or more for the third time in their last eight games.
Having dispatched Newcastle United 4-0 in the Premier League on Saturday, City barely threatened in the Spanish capital.
With Erling Haaland on the bench after coming off injured late in that Newcastle game, they took 76 minutes to register a shot on target.
Nico Gonzalez’s first goal for the club, a straightforward finish into an empty net after Omar Marmoush’s free-kick cannoned back off the crossbar, at least ensured that City avoided drawing a blank for the first time this side of Christmas, but positives were in short supply for Guardiola’s side.
City have now suffered more defeats than in any previous campaign under Guardiola, who is approaching a decade in charge at the Etihad Stadium. (Premier league)
This was that player whose debut was heavily criticized, but today has spelt out legendary players from just renowned players. As he bowed out of the second half see how the whole fans embraced him with love with an unprecedented standing ovation at the bernabul. And after the match kylian affirmed saying with Madrid he has come to make history.
Carole Ancelotti expression of satisfaction after the brilliant play of the team “This has been the complete performance — attack, defense, with the ball and without the ball, we showed such high levels of quality,” Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said. “Almost the perfect night.”
Guardiola reponded to the defeat in a certain way: “Nothing is eternal.”
He said: “The best team won. They deserved it. This is the benchmark. We have to accept it and move forward.
“In previous seasons when we were better, it hurt more. We have to accept it and the reality of our team.”
Asked whether a rebuild is needed, he said: “We have time. We have 13 games left in the Premier League to get into this competition next season.”
