In a sensational Champions League Round of 16 second leg at the Santiago Bernabéu, Kylian Mbappé’s stunning hat trick propelled Real Madrid to a resounding 6-3 aggregate victory over Manchester City. The reigning European champions, seeking an unprecedented sixteenth title, made easy work of the 2023 winners, who now face the prospect of ending the season with only the FA Cup as a realistic shot at silverware.
Mbappé Delivers on the Grandest Stage
This was the kind of night Kylian Mbappé had dreamt about when he made his blockbuster move to the Spanish capital. Having previously experienced the Bernabéu’s electric atmosphere as an opponent with Paris Saint-Germain, the 24-year-old French superstar was now on the other, happier side of the equation.
Mbappé’s ruthless efficiency in the first half was breathtaking. He needed just 14 touches to take 5 shots, burying 2 of them with an expected goals (xG) of 0.73. His opener was a first-time lofted finish over Ederson from Raúl Asencio’s long ball, while his second came at the end of a flowing move involving Jude Bellingham, Vinícius Júnior, and Rodrygo.
Mbappé’s goalscoring record in Champions League knockout games is staggering: 24 goals since 2017, including tonight’s hat trick. No player has scored more.
Madrid Back Among the Favorites
After an underwhelming showing in the initial group stage, doubts had crept in about Carlo Ancelotti’s side. But this demolition of Manchester City has firmly re-established Los Blancos as one of the teams to beat in this season’s competition.
- The defense looks more solid, with Antonio Rüdiger returning from injury to partner an improving Raúl Asencio.
- Federico Valverde continues to impress as a makeshift right-back, with his all-action style perfectly suited to the role.
- In midfield, Aurélien Tchouaméni put in perhaps his best performance of the season, while Dani Ceballos exceeded expectations once again.
Most importantly, Madrid’s “Fantastic Four” in attack are flying. The understanding between Mbappé, Vinícius, Rodrygo, and Bellingham – all involved in the team’s sumptuous second goal – has the potential to strike fear into any defense in Europe.
Time Catches Up With City
For Pep Guardiola’s men, this chastening defeat laid bare the issues that have plagued them throughout the worst season of the Catalan’s nine-year reign. The signs of decline have been apparent for a while, but this listless performance offered indisputable evidence that time has caught up with this once-dominant team.
Injuries have taken their toll on aging stars like Kevin De Bruyne and İlkay Gündoğan, while summer signing Abdukodir Khusanov endured another torrid night, clearly not yet ready for this level. City looked a shadow of their former selves, bereft of the hunger, energy, and belief that characterized their best years.
Erling Haaland’s ongoing fitness issues will be another major concern for Guardiola. The Norwegian striker was not deemed fit enough to start and did not even take part in the pre-match warm-up, raising more questions than answers about the severity of his knee injury.
As the blue half of Manchester surveys the wreckage of a season that promised so much, they may well wonder if this is the end of an era. The challenge now for Guardiola is to rebuild and rejuvenate a side that has set the standard in English football for the better part of a decade.
For Real Madrid, meanwhile, the quest for a record-extending sixteenth European Cup continues. With Mbappé in this kind of form and the team hitting their stride at just the right time, few would bet against them going all the way once again.
