Real Madrid struck late in the second to secure a 3-2 win over Manchester City in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League knockout play-offs.
UEFA Champions League
Result: Manchester City 2-3 Real Madrid
Date: 11 February 2025
Venue: Etihad Stadium
Erling Haaland and Kevin de Bruyne were recalled to the City line-up following the FA Cup action over the weekend, Eduardo Camavinga came in for Lucas Vazquez as Federico Valverde slotted in at right-back.The visitors looked the livelier of the two sides in the early stages and they had two chances to get the breakthrough after ten minutes but both Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius were denied in the box.
Madrid were made to rue those misses when City took the lead in the 18th minute when Josko Gvardiola cushioned Jack Grealish' pass into the path of Haaland, who volleyed home his first goal against the Spanish giants.
The game was played at a great tempo as Los Blancos were unlucky not to have equalised when Vinicius rattled the crossbar with a powerful strike, before Manuel Akanji saw his glancing kpt out by the woodwork at the other end.
The sides carried that momentum into the second half, with the visitors going close to equalising five minutes in when Vinicius raced to the byline before picking out Jude Bellingham, who sent his header wide of the mark.
Madrid got their reward in the 59th minute when Dani Ceballos' lovely lofted pass over the top found the run of Mbappe, who found the back of the net with a scuffed effort from close range.
Ceballos then went from hero to villain after 76 minutes when City were awarded a penalty for his rash challenge on Phil Foden in the box. Haaland stepped up and calmly slotted home to restore the home side's lead.
Madrid got back on level terms with three minutes left when former City attacker Brahim Diaz fired home from the rebound after Vinicius' strike was saved by Ederson, who initially gave the ball away.
With the game heading for a draw, Madrid bagged the winning goal in second-half stoppage time when Vinicius won the ball high-up before setting up Bellingham, who tapped into an empty net.
Other results:
Brest 0-3 Paris Saint-Germain
Juventus 2-1 PSV Eindhoven
Sporting Lisbon 0-3 Borussia Dortmund
