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Pep Guardiola prior to this meeting had touted Real Madrid’s vaunted front four as the decisive factor in their Champions League playoff tie against Real Madrid. And it was two of them – Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Junior – who ultimately made the difference.
Erling Haaland had threatened to upstage them, scoring twice, including a penalty, to take his tally to 23 goals this season. His first goal came after a lovely lobbed ball from Jack Grealish, who had been recalled to the starting lineup after a spell on the sidelines. However, Grealish’s evening was cut short by injury, forcing him off after just half an hour.
Madrid had started brightly, with Vinícius and Mbappé menacing the City defense. Vinícius sashayed around one challenge before playing in Mbappé, who saw Ederson block his shot. Then Madrid worked their way up the left of the City area, Vinícius denied at close quarters by Ederson. On the rebound, Ferland Mendy’s attempt was cleared from in front of the line by Nathan Aké.
The first half was exciting, with chances at both ends. Vinícius rattled the crossbar after a step over and a slide inside, while there was a flurry from the visitors before the interval. Federico Valverde, playing at right-back as Carlo Ancelotti contended with a defensive injury crisis, banged a shot just too high. Mbappé twice went close; the second attempt steered wastefully over.
For City, Grealish’s replacement, Phil Foden, worked Thibaut Courtois from distance. Manuel Akanji looped a header on to the top of the crossbar from a corner. Haaland was also in the mood, almost making it 2-0 at the start of the second-half, taking a Kevin De Bruyne pass, skating inside and seeing his shot deflect and hit the crossbar.
Back came Madrid. Vinícius had the beating of City substitute Rico Lewis, who came on at half-time for Manuel Akanji at right-back. Jude Bellingham went close with a header. Mbappé drew a fine reflex save out of Ederson. City were increasingly stretched and it could be felt the equaliser was coming.
When it did come, it was laced with good fortune, although Madrid will argue that they deserved it. City cleared a free-kick but Dani Ceballos’s chip back in for the run of Mbappé was beautiful. Mbappé’s side-on volley was more shin than boot. It spun in a little apologetically.
Madrid looked the likelier scorers of the next goal. Valverde lashed inches past the far post. Bellingham was denied one-on-one by Ederson. The tie swung one way when Foden switched the ball from one foot to the other and Ceballos was already committed. Ancelotti gestured in disbelief insinuating a false call, just before Haaland’s nerveless penalty.
Brahim Diaz took it upon himself to draw Madrid level four minutes from time and the tie looks all set for a draw into the second leg.
But Madrid were not done just yet. Vinícius exposed Lewis, chipping the ball over Ederson for Bellingham to score. The win gives Madrid a precious first-leg advantage, and they will be confident of progressing to the last 16. For City, the defeat is a setback especially taking the lead at the closing embers of the game, but they will seek to overturn the deficit in the return leg next week.
