Real Madrid dominate, with Kylian Mbappe’s brilliance sealing Man City’s earliest UCL elimination since 2013.
Manchester City’s Champions League campaign came to an end at the Bernabeu, as Kylian Mbappe’s spectacular hat-trick propelled holders Real Madrid to a comfortable victory and a place in the last 16.
Pep Guardiola’s side was seeking to recover from a 3-2 deficit in the first leg of the play-offs, but the game was practically over just four minutes, as Mbappe’s exquisite lob from Raul Asencio’s pass increased their lead.
City’s position worsened seconds after Mbappe’s opening as defender John Stones suffered an injury. Erling Haaland was only fit enough to sit on the bench.
And City’s earliest Champions League exit since failing to advance from the group stage in 2012-13 came closer when Mbappe used excellent close control to wrong-foot Josko Gvardiol before past Ederson after 33 minutes.
The France forward’s third came just after the hour with a low shot as City crumbled, scarcely laying a touch on Real all night as they were outmatched.
City responded with Nico Gonzalez’s first goal for the club after Omar Marmoush’s free-kick struck the crossbar, but it was insufficient on a difficult night for the defending Premier League champions.
It was a humbling moment for Guardiola, whose agony was particularly savored by Real’s fans because of his former Barcelona allegiances, as he faces a massive mission to rebuild and restore City to Europe’s top table.
