The winner of Jude Bellingham's stop-time saw Real Madrid come twice from behind to beat Manchester City 3-2 in the first stage of their Champions League play-off.
Erling Haaland had won the game in the Etihad Stadium from the penalty spot late with his second of the night and recovered the lead after Kylian Mbappe was leveled with a mis-beating volley. But City collapsed in the last moments.
With the first time, Brahim Diaz scored shot on the rebound against his former club before Bellingham had the last word, who stuck the ball with the goalkeeper after Vinicius junior Rico Lewis deprived and had fired the ball over Edersonon. Cruel.
Madrid will feel that they have created more than enough to win it, but the way the result was heavy on the Pep Guardiola side and lets them do a lot against the European champions when they meet each other in the Bernabeu for one Place in the last 16.
How it fell apart for the city
It was an exciting game. Madrid stacked the pressure early. Vinicius, greeted with a Banner from Rodri who kissed the balloon d'Or and boosted everywhere, was only removed by Edererson in the box for the offside flag to deny him. Nathan Ake produced a large block.
And then come in. It was a wonderful pass from Jack Grealish, just about his last act before he was injured. He found Josko Gvardiol that nodded down for Haaland to finish. There was a long wait for VAR, but the goal was. The trust of the city flowed back.
There was still time for Vinicius and Manuel Akanji both to hit the frame of the goal before the break, Haaland itself immediately after. City was in a heavyweight game, the question would always be whether they could keep it up.
Mbappe's Equalizer, a complete mis-hit, which shines the ball in the net with Edererson Wrong Voets, was a pity. But City reacted again thanks to the fast feet of Foden and the coolness of Haaland. It will hurt that they wasted the lead the second time.
For all remarkable determination of Madrid, both goals felt inflicted to themselves, a result of surrendering the city's possession instead of looking forward. Even then, Edererson could have parrying the goal. Lewis had to be stronger. In the end City will have the feeling that she blew it.
There is still 90 minutes coming. But while the Guardiola's side remains susceptible to those dips, the periods in which they can quickly admit in succession, that feels like too much time for this team instead of too little. Madrid in control. The hope of the city hangs on a thread.
No chance for city now
Sky Sports' Paul Merson on football special:
“It was a case of two striking mistakes from Man City.
“First of all, Edererson has the ball in his hands and city is 2-1 up. He tries to bring a goal of a target kick to the side and it goes terribly wrong and goes straight to Bellingham.
“He chooses the right pass to Vinicius and his shot bounces from Edererson before Brahim Diaz scores the rebound, I think the man of the man City should do much better.
“Vinicius just comes for Rico Lewis and he's gone on goal. He lobbs over the goalkeeper and the ball is terribly wide, but Jude Bellingham succeeds and scores.
“The old man City played a game of 90 to 95 minutes every week. They just can't seem to do it now.
“I don't know what it is, whether they just switch off or whether it is just an aging team. The older you get, the tired you get and when you get tired, the more mistakes you make.
“They just seemed to eliminate.
“They really did well for much of the game. Of course they sometimes drove their happiness like you against a quality side such as Real Madrid.
“But they will be so disappointed. We are not even mid -February and Man City is just playing for the FA Cup.
“I don't give them a chance in the second stage. I have seen enough in Real Madrid to know that they can open Man City as a knife through butter.”
Guardiola: 'It's not full time'
Manchester City Manager Pep Guardiola speaks in the press conference:
“It is not full -time. Today was tight, they have opportunities, but we took the game and played really well with the ball. In many games this season we have given away goals, it has often happened and that is why it is difficult.
“We are talking about that. But how? We need to know that there are mistakes in certain areas, it is difficult to manage. It has often happened. It is not about specific players, there are many situations we have to read and we cannot Do it.
“Players make decisions right now and sometimes it works, sometimes not. It has happened many, many times. So think, think, maybe it won't happen in the future. It is what it is. Today was tight, I'm honest Against myself, at the last minute we arrive with a good result, but we couldn't keep it. “
“We finally had our chance”
Real Madrid -Midfielder Jude Bellingham to Amazon Prime:
“It was a strange one. We played some of our best football of the season and ended behind.
“I think we played well and created a lot. We were always confident during the game that something would fall for us.
“I don't care what form of City is located, they are still an incredible team. It is always difficult to play against them and we finally took the chance at the end.
“It is always good to take a lead home and I am sure the Bernabeu will come through for us.
“It seems that there are up and down in these knockout games. It is not only game management, it is tactical and it is also psychological.”
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