Real Madrid easily beat Manchester City 3-1 with a Kylian Mbappe hat-trick on Feb 19 in their Champions League playoff second leg at a raucous Santiago Bernabeu stadium, earning them a 6-3 aggregate victory and a place in the last-16. Last year’s champions will face either Bayer Leverkusen or city rivals Atletico Madrid, depending on Friday’s draw, as they seek a record-extending 16th title.
It was the first time in City coach Pep Guardiola’s illustrious career that one of his teams in the Champions League had failed to reach the Round of 16. “It was a perfect night,” Mbappe said. “It’s only logical that Real Madrid advance to the last-16. We are very strong at home and it’s great to give joy to our fans.”
After a breathtaking first leg packed with goals and individual brilliance from both sides at the Etihad Stadium, the return game was thoroughly one-sided.
Real did not have to work too hard to subdue their sorry rivals who failed to manage a shot on target in the first half, looking a shadow of Guardiola’s dominant force from past years. Already 3-2 down from the first game, City’s task became even harder an hour before kick-off when they announced a starting 11 without leading striker Erling Haaland, who suffered a knee injury at the weekend. Real took full control of proceedings from the off and never looked under threat with the hapless visitors lucky not to lose by a larger margin.