Jude Bellingham is again the hero for Real Madrid with a goal in the 93rd minute of play to secure a 3-2 victory over Manchester City in the first leg of the Champions League knockout stage. A spot in the last 16 is on the line and it looked like City were heading into the second leg with a victory following Erling Haaland's brace, but late goals from Brahim Diaz and Bellingham along with mistakes from Ederson changed the narrative. Real Madrid deserved to win the match but were up against it after Dani Ceballos conceded a penalty fouling Phil Foden but considering that City allowed 3.39 expected goals at the Etihad with everything on the line, this was a warranted loss.
Erling Haaland did his part in taking care of business but for multiple goals, the City goalkeeper was baited on Madrid's winner with Vinicius Junior drawing him out of his box and flicking the ball while hoping for a prayer. Bellingham answered it with a good finish under pressure in the dying moments. City have now dropped 25 points from leading positions and four of their Champions League losses or draws have now come after leading.
Under Pep Guardiola, this version of City is further than they've ever been from being contenders for the Champions League crown, and collapses like this show why. Real Madrid were without their top defenders and only won by a thread, but with advancing as the goal, Los Blancos did just enough even if it may have been from the flight of the ball off of Kylian Mbappe's shin that got them back into it.
Jude Bellingham sealed the match for Real Madrid but it was a disappointing loss for City as they were leading after the 80th minute. In a season during which much has gone wrong for City, this could be among the biggest losses that they have suffered.
With an assist and a penalty conceded, it has been a mixed game for the midfielder but Luka Modric will close the match out. City has also made changes with Gundogan and Marmoush entering for fresh legs.
Dani Ceballos and Phil Foden clashed just inside the box and Manchester City has been given a penalty, with it being on the line, this is a close one. There was contact there.
Jude Bellingham came close to putting Real Madrid ahead but Ederson was there to make the save. If City doesn't watch out, they could be behind in the match before long as Real's counter attack is rounding into form.
Following the goal Mateo Kovacic will come on for Manchester City. Nathan Ake is the player withdrawn with John Stones going into defense. Real Madrid has taken control of midfield in the second half of play so this change will help combat that.
55' Madrid make their way into City's box again and Mbappe comes up with a big shot from close range, forcing a point-blank shot from Ederson. It's a great read from Ederson, and a massive help as City hang onto their 1-0 lead.
53' Madrid muster their first real goalscoring chance of the second half, with Bellingham on the receiving end of a brilliant cross from the opposite side of the goal. Bellingham can't get a clean touch on the ball with his head, though, perhaps the result of the ball coming at such a speed that he was unable to steer it in the right direction. The ball goes out of play but Madrid's attack is finally showing some signs of life in this second half.
51' Much like it was in the first half, things have started on a fairly quiet note in the second half. The first decent looks at goal have gone City's way, though, with the hosts earning a corner. Madrid were able to get out of danger with relative ease, making one wonder if this feeling of subtlety will be City's approach for the second half.
City make a halftime change, bringing on Lewis for Akanji.
Real Madrid have had plenty of glances, but it's Manchester City with the lead courtesy of a strike from Erling Haaland. It's been a fairly entertaining 45 minutes, especially with all of the momentum shifts. Things still feel like they could tilt Madrid's way, but it might all come down to whether or not the reigning champions have a good attacking day. So far, the results are mixed, but things could change after the break.
45'+5 Mbappe gets as close as anyone on Madrid to scoring their first goal of the game, but the ball goes out for a corner. City survive that sequence, but Madrid are able to win the ball near the attacking third. Rodrygo then plays a perfect ball to his left for Mbappe, who has a terrific chance at scoring. Somehow, though, he sends the ball over the bar and gifts City a moment of reprieve. That feels like a wasted chance.
45'+1 Real Madrid maintain some pressure heading into first half stoppage time, requiring some real teamwork from Manchester City to keep them at bay. Rodrygo, for example, sends a wonderful ball across the goal line that a teammate could collect, but instead it's City's Savinho who's cleaning up in the back and plays the ball out of danger. He's not the only attacker helping out with the team's defensive effort -- Haaland's made a couple of clearances on corners.
42' Real Madrid make their way into the penalty area, with Rodrygo and Vinicius looking the most likely to either create a chance or take one themselves. City have enough numbers in the box to clog up any free space, though Madrid force a corner. The visitors are unable to do much with it.
37' And speaking of the momentum favoring City, they are able to restart quickly after the ball goes out of play and it's Haaland -- who else? -- who takes a shot near goal and forces Madrid to concede a corner. De Bruyne swings the ball in and City look close to scoring again, but the goal doesn't come.
35' City are putting in the work to extend their lead, making a couple of dangerous runs at goal and forcing blocks out of Madrid's defense. The sequence of attacking plays includes a shot from Foden, which Courtois makes a routine stop on, but the momentum has swung in City's favor and the English side has not relinquished control just yet.
30' Grealish pulls up with an issue and after a quick look by the medical team, he walks off the pitch and Foden takes his place. Grealish walks straight down the tunnel, and though it's unclear what is bothering him, that's definitely not great news for City, especially after he played a crucial role in building the game's opening goal.
25' Real Madrid begin their quest to mount a comeback and Vinicius comes up with a shot that is deflected out for a corner. City clear the ball out of the box but Madrid continue to press, and press well -- they look intent on staying in the attacking third, so it could be a long night for the English champions.
15' City survive that period of trouble and make their way towards goal, earning a corner. De Bruyne swings the ball in and after a few bounces in the box, the ball lands to Savinho outside the penalty area. He's not able to keep the ball on frame, though, and sends it over the crossbar.
13' Things may have started mildly, but it feels like the game is slipping out of City's control at lightning speed. De Bruyne gives the ball away in midfield and Vinicius has eyes for goal, and he just may have found a way to score if it wasn't for Ake's clean tackle to steer his side out of danger yet again.
12' Rodrygo, Bellingham and Mbappe combine nicely and it's Mbappe who has a clear look at goal and takes a shot from an angle, though Ederson's up to the task and makes the save. City are unable to clear it out of danger and soon enough, Mendy has a great look at goal of his own and Ake has to make a last-ditch block to avoid conceding the game's opening goal.
11' It's early and there's not a ton of end product to speak of so far, but both sides have started the game energetically. The intensity has come in bursts rather than in a steady flow, most recently with Vinicius making a run for goal and forcing Ederson to foul him in the box, only for the offside flag to go up. Though things are still somewhat cagey, it feels like a big moment could come at any moment. Hopefully that's a sign that entertainment's on the horizon.
2' De Bruyne is standing on the ball, just a few feet from the penalty area and tries to create City's first big attacking chance of the day. His ball is swiftly blocked and sent out for a corner, and Camavinga clears it out of danger to kickstart an attack for Madrid but that's stifled fairly easily by City.
The game is officially underway in Manchester.
Paris Saint-Germain cruised to a 3-0 win at Brest, with Ousmane Dembele scoring a brace and Vitinha converting a penalty. The French champions are now unbeaten in 31 games against Brest, and now carry a very healthy advantage into next week's second leg at home. The situation favors PSG in more ways than one -- they've won 11 of their last 15 games at home, making a spot in the round of 16 feel almost like a certainty.
Raul Asencio may have only made his first team debut for Real Madrid this season, but the young center back is slowly becoming a player of note at a very important part of the campaign for the reigning Champions League winners. Here's James Benge on why Ascencio is his player to watch in today's consequential match, plus more picks and predictions for all of today's games.
Carlo Ancleotti also goes with the tried and true in attack, but perhaps the main focus of their lineup should be the back line -- natural midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni slots in at center back again, while 21-year-old Raul Asencio joins him. Here's a look at Real Madrid's lineup.
Real Madrid starting XI: Courtois, Valverde, Asencio, Tchouameni, Mendy, Camavinga, Ceballos, Rodrygo, Bellingham, Vinicius, Mbappe
Manchester City may have a batch of new signings, but they will be available off the bench as Pep Guardiola chooses to run with a lineup of more experienced talents. Here's a look at City's lineup.
Man City starting XI: Ederson, Ake, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol, Stones, Silva, Savinho, De Bruyne, Grealish, Haaland
The round of 16 draw might still be a week and a half away, but some big clashes in the round of 16 await. Here are the predetermined meetings that could come in the round of 16.
It may still be fairly early in the Champions League season, but one of the biggest games of the campaign is upon us. The last two winners of the tournament face off as they begin to chart a path to the round of 16, an earlier-than-anticipated meeting serving as arguably a fitting punishment for their underwhelming league phase performances. The stakes are high for both Manchester City and Real Madrid, who share some similarities as they struggle through this season, so this month's knockout phase playoff tie has the potential of truly testing each side's mettle.
Stick around as we build up to the game and provide updates once it begins.
