What a game at the Etihad Stadium it was between Manchester City and Real Madrid. It was a Champions League classic, in which the visitors ran out 3-2 winners late in stoppage time, in one of the most enthralling games of the season.
After early chances for Madrid, which they probably should have scored from, Erling Haaland gave City the lead 19 minutes into the game. The Norweigan finished off a lovely team move, in which Jack Grealish clipped a pass over to Josko Gvardiol, who chested it down to Haaland for 1-0 to the home side.
Their lead lasted until the 60th minute when Kylian Mbappe had his say on the game. It wasn’t a clean strike from the Frenchman, but he lifted the ball over Ederson and it looped into the back of the net for 1-1.
With time ticking away, it seemed like the next goal could be decisive. It was once again Haaland who scored, converting a penalty won by first-half substitute Phil Foden, who was brought down just on the edge of the box.
However, the City number nine’s strike was anything but decisive. In classic fashion, Los Blancos scored two late goals to equalise and then win the game, in what was a calamitous few moments for Pep Guardiola’s side.
The man who scored the winner, Jude Bellingham, proved to be a real thorn in City’s side as they collapsed in the final minutes of the crunch clash.
Bellingham’s brilliance as City collapse
The last six minutes of the game, from the 86th to the 92nd minute, were a calamity for the Citizens. Firstly, the Spanish side equalised through a former City academy graduate, Brahim Diaz.
It was poor defending from the Premier League champions, who did not pick up their former player, allowing him to waltz into the box unmarked. He got on the end of a rebound from Vinicius Junior’s shot and fired home to make it 2-2.
It got worse for the home side, however, in the 92nd minute when Madrid won the game. Who else but Bellingham, the “big game player” himself, as Statman Dave called him. The England international was superb on the night and got the decisive touch to win the game for his side.
It was, again, terrible work from City. Mateo Kovacic sloppily lost possession in midfield, selling Rico Lewis short with his pass. Vinicius ran onto the ball, clipped it over the onrushing Ederson and into Bellingham’s path. He got ahead of Three Lions teammate John Stones and sealed a remarkably victory.
Bellingham was excellent on the night, and City simply fell away. They would have been looking for their own creative force to step up like Bellingham did, but he was, in many ways, outclassed by the Madrid number five.
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The Man City star who was outclassed by Bellingham
It was not the worst performance ever from Kevin De Bruyne against Los Blancos, but Guardiola would have wanted more from City’s star man. He threatened to impact the game with a goal or assist but did not actually manage to do so in that sense.
The Belgian stalwart’s stats via Sofascore from the game were, perhaps, a little disappointing. He did manage to create three chances, although lost the ball 19 times and had a dismal 74% pass accuracy. Off the ball, he was underwhelming too, winning just one from nine ground duels.
In comparison, Bellingham managed to create two chances himself, lost the ball just nine times and had an impressive 92% pass accuracy. He was imperious off the ball, winning seven from 12 ground duels, and, of course, scored the all-important winning goal.
Touches
51
60
Pass accuracy
74%
92%
Passes completed
24/35
36/39
Key passes
3
2
Dribbles completed
0/2
3/3
Number of times ball lost
19
9
Ground duels won
1/9
7/12
There is no doubt that Guardiola will have been seeking more complete display from his number 17. So often a rich source of goals and assists, the Belgian did cause Madrid problems at times, but nothing too concerning. The Manchester Evening News journalist Simon Bajkowski described his balls into the box as “a nuisance”, but they did not lead to anything for City.
In the second leg, the Citizens will be desperate for their star man to show up for the count if they are to turn the tie around. De Bruyne already has eight goal involvements in ten games against Madrid, including Tuesday’s clash, but will be hoping to add to that next week in Spain.
Whether or not he starts, however, remains to be seen with both Omar Marmoush and Phil Foden waiting in the wings. Perhaps a place on the bench beckons next time out.
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