Real Madrid 3-1 Man City (agg 6 -3): Kylian Mbappe hits hat-trick as Madrid crush City to storm Champions League Round 16.

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On a night where Pep Guardiola would have hoped his City side could conjure something extraordinary at the Santiago Bernabeu, it was Kylian Mbappe’s incredible hat-trick that saw Real Madrid to a 3-1 victory over the Cityzens in the Champions League knockout round playoff on Wednesday night. With this win, Real Madrid secured a 6-3 aggregate win, advancing to the last 16.

Mbappe’s electric dominance was on full display as he scored his first goal just four minutes into the match, catching Manchester City off guard with a lobbed shot over the goalkeeper. The strike came after a simple ball over the top caught Man City out, and Ruben Dias’s slip allowed Mbappe to keep his composure and score.

Things went from bad to worse for City in the aftermath, as John Stones was taken off injured after a seemingly innocuous challenge. Real Madrid continued to rack up the chances, with Mbappe beating Dias again for pace, forcing Ederson to make a crucial save.

The Frenchman doubled the lead in the 34th minute, with amazing skills by dummying past Josko Gvardiol and slamming the ball home. The goal was a result of Real Madrid’s persistent overload on the Man City defense, with a neat short pass from Rodrygo finding Mbappe.

Mbappe completed his hat-trick on the hour mark, skipping past Phil Foden and delivering a precise, low finish into the far corner. He was picked out over on the right of the area with zero pressure.

Manchester City managed a late consolation goal through Nico Gonzalez, but it was too little, too late. The goal came in added time, after Omar Marmoush’s free-kick cannoned off the crossbar, and Gonzalez was there to turn home. A VAR check confirmed the goal stood.

This victory secures Real Madrid’s position as serious contenders for the Champions League title this term, with a formidable front four of Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo, and Jude Bellingham. Meanwhile, Manchester City’s focus shifts to the Premier League and FA Cup, with the latter representing their best chance of silverware this season.

The loss, a major setback for Manchester City, who hosts Liverpool at the Etihad on Sunday. Without Erling Haaland, Man City had no real goal threat, and without Kevin De Bruyne, there was no real creation. It was a worrying night for the Premier League champions, who are having a disappointing season, and being eliminated at this stage of the Champions League is a serious disappointment considering their recent success on the continent.