Jude Bellingham’s stoppage-time winner noticed Actual Madrid twice come from behind to beat Manchester Metropolis 3-2 within the first leg of their Champions League play-off.
Erling Haaland had appeared to have received the sport on the Etihad Stadium from the penalty spot late on along with his second of the night time, restoring the lead after Kylian Mbappe had levelled on the hour with a mis-hit volley. However Metropolis collapsed within the closing moments.
Brahim Diaz netted with a first-time shot on the rebound towards his former membership earlier than Bellingham had the ultimate say, latching onto the ball with the goalkeeper crushed after Vinicius Junior had robbed Rico Lewis and lofted the ball over Ederson. Merciless.
Madrid will really feel they created greater than sufficient to win it however the method of the consequence was robust on Pep Guardiola’s facet and leaves them with a lot to do towards the European champions once they meet within the Bernabeu for a spot within the final 16.
The way it fell aside for Metropolis
It was an exhilarating sport. Madrid piled on the strain early on. Vinicius, greeted with a banner of Rodri kissing the Ballon d’Or and booed all through, was taken down within the field by Ederson just for the offside flag to disclaim him. Nathan Ake produced an enormous block.
After which, enter Haaland. It was a stunning move by Jack Grealish, nearly his closing act earlier than going off injured. He discovered Josko Gvardiol who nodded down for Haaland to complete. There was a protracted look forward to VAR however the objective stood. Metropolis’s confidence flooded again.
There was nonetheless time for Vinicius and Manuel Akanji each to hit the body of the objective earlier than the break, Haaland himself instantly after it. Metropolis have been in a heavyweight sport, the query was all the time going to be whether or not they would have the ability to maintain it.
Mbappe’s equaliser, an entire mis-hit, shinning the ball into the web with Ederson wrong-footed, was unlucky. However Metropolis responded once more because of Foden’s fast ft and Haaland’s coolness. It would damage that they squandered the lead the second time.
Kylian Mbappe’s mis-hit volley obtained Actual Madrid’s first equaliser
For all Madrid’s exceptional resolve, each objectives felt self-inflicted, a results of Metropolis surrendering possession as an alternative of seeing it out. Even then, Ederson may have parried away from objective. Lewis wanted to be stronger. In the long run, Metropolis will really feel they blew it.
There may be 90 minutes to come back. However whereas Guardiola’s facet stay inclined to these dips, the intervals once they can concede in fast succession, that seems like an excessive amount of time for this crew somewhat than too little. Madrid in management. Metropolis’s hopes hold by a thread.
Erling Haaland scored two instances however it was not sufficient as Man Metropolis twice gave up the result in lose 3-2
No probability for Metropolis now
Sky Sports activities’ Paul Merson on Soccer Particular:
“It was a case of two glaring errors from Man City.
“First, Ederson has the ball in his palms and Metropolis are 2-1 up. He tries to facet volley a objective kick and it goes horribly improper and goes straight to Bellingham.
“He picks the right pass to Vinicius and his shot bounces off Ederson before Brahim Diaz scores the rebound, I think the Man City goalkeeper should do much better.
“Vinicius then simply will get in entrance of Rico Lewis and he is away on objective. he lobs it over the goalkeeper and the ball goes horribly broad however Jude Bellingham follows it up and scores.
“The old Man City used to play a game of 90 to 95 minutes every week. They just can’t seem to do it now.
“I do not know what it’s, whether or not they simply swap off or whether or not it’s simply an ageing crew. The older you get, the extra drained you get and if you happen to get drained the extra errors you make.
“They just seemed to switch off.
“They did rather well for lots of the sport. In fact, they rode their luck at instances as you do towards a top quality facet like Actual Madrid.
“But they will be so disappointed. We are not even in the middle of February yet and Man City are just playing for the FA Cup.
“I do not give them an opportunity within the second leg. I’ve seen sufficient in Actual Madrid to know they will open up Man Metropolis like a knife by means of butter.”
Jude Bellingham celebrates his stoppage-time winner for Actual Madrid at Manchester Metropolis
‘We took our probability in the long run’
Actual Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham to Amazon Prime:
“It was a weird one. We played some of our best football of the season and ended up behind.
“I feel we have been enjoying properly and creating so much. We have been all the time assured all through the sport that one thing would drop for us.
“I don’t care what form City are in they are still an unbelievable team. It’s always tricky to play against them and we finally took the chance at the end.
“It is all the time good to take a lead again dwelling and I am positive the Bernabeu will come by means of for us.
“It seems like there is up and downs in these knockout games. It’s not just game management, it’s tactical and it’s psychological as well.”
