Kylian Mbappe scored a hat-trick as Real Madrid beat Manchester City 3-1 in the second leg of their Champions League knockout round playoff on Wednesday night to breeze into the next stage of the competition.
Carlo Ancelotti's side brought a 3-2 advantage into the return fixture and the reigning European champions had no trouble from the Citizens on the night, with Mbappe hitting a treble to secure a 6-3 aggregate success.
Mbappe made the breakthrough just four minutes into the contest before adding another in the 33rd minute; the Frenchman then completed his hat-trick just past the hour to cap a stunning performance in the Spanish capital.
Man City did have a late consolation at the Santiago Bernabeu, though, courtesy of a close-range finish from Nico Gonzalez.
Real Madrid will take on either Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen in the next round of the competition, while Man City's focus is now on the Premier League and FA Cup, with the latter representing their best chance of silverware this term.
SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
© Imago
This was an incredibly tough night for Man City and their head coach Pep Guardiola.
There was not a single moment in the match when the Citizens looked capable of picking up a good result, with Real Madrid the dominant outfit from the first whistle to almost the last, and Ancelotti's side sent out a statement here.
Real Madrid have been far from perfect this season and they are no longer top of the La Liga table, but the capital giants are serious challengers to win Spain's top flight and the Champions League once again, while the team are present in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey.
Any side with Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and Jude Bellingham as a front four has a serious chance, and it could have been more comprehensive on the night such was Real Madrid's dominance.
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 tough campaign, and being eliminated at this stage of the Champions League is a serious disappointment considering their recent record in Europe.
REAL MADRID VS. MAN CITY HIGHLIGHTS
Kylian Mbappe goal vs. Man City (4th min, Real Madrid 1-0 Man City)
Kylian Mbappé, that is a brilliant finish 👏
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 19, 2025
Real Madrid extend their lead with an early goal!
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/fORpRxdzL2
Real Madrid make the breakthrough in the fourth minute of the contest, and it is a wonderful finish from Mbappe, who lifts a long Raul Asencio pass over Man City goalkeeper Ederson - incredibly poor defending from the Premier League champions there, with Ruben Dias losing his footing moments before Mbappe produced the lobbed finish.
Kylian Mbappe goal vs. Man City (33rd min, Real Madrid 2-0 Man City)
It's the Mbappé show 🍿
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 19, 2025
The forward sits Gvardiol down to score his second of the night 😳
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/sZPyfyX4Lc
Real Madrid have their second of the match, and it is a brace for Mbappe, who sits Josko Gvardiol down inside the Man City penalty box before firing the ball into the bottom corner - devastating from Los Blancos, who have been exceptional thus far tonight.
Kylian Mbappe goal vs. Man City (61st min, Real Madrid 3-0 Man City)
Kylian Mbappé completes his hat-trick against Man City 🎩
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 19, 2025
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/ykKPSGlbvF
There is the hat-trick! Mbappe scores his third, as he cuts onto his left foot before firing the ball into the bottom corner of the net - that is his 28th goal of the season for Real Madrid, who are heading for the next round of the competition.
92nd min: Real Madrid 3-1 Man City (Nico Gonzalez)
Man City have a late consolation at the Bernabeu, as Gonzalez taps home from close range after Omar Marmoush's free kick smashes against the Real Madrid crossbar; the goal is eventually given following a lengthy VAR check.
MAN OF THE MATCH - KYLIAN MBAPPE
© Imago
Federico Valverde is incredibly unfortunate to miss out on this award considering his display, with the Uruguay international an inspirational figure for the Spanish giants from an unfamiliar right-back position.
However, the man-of-the-match award simply has to be given to hat-trick hero Mbappe, who was in sensational form against Man City; the Citizens just could not live with the 26-year-old, who is now on 28 goals for the campaign.
REAL MADRID VS. MAN CITY MATCH STATS
Possession: Real Madrid 48%-52% Man City
Shots: Real Madrid 15-12 Man City
Shots on target: Real Madrid 8-4 Man City
Corners: Real Madrid 7-5 Man City
Fouls: Real Madrid 9-9 Man City
BEST STATS
10 - Carlo Ancelotti and Pep Guardiola will be the first managers to face each other on 10 occasions in the UEFA Champions League; eight of which have come while in charge of their current clubs, Real Madrid and Manchester City. Blockbuster. pic.twitter.com/TXb83kFJBo
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 19, 2025
2 - Abdukodir Khusanov (20y 356d) is one of only two players aged under-21 to see their first UEFA Champions League start come in a knockout stage match away to Real Madrid, after FC Schalke 04's Kaan Ayhan in March 2014 (19y 128d). Baptism. pic.twitter.com/85FZmkOe4p
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 19, 2025
4 - Kylian Mbappé's opener for Real Madrid (3:35) was their earliest goal in a UEFA Champions League game since April 2018 v Juventus (2:47), while it was the earliest Man City have conceded in the competition since October 2018 v Hoffenheim (00:43). Stung. pic.twitter.com/GpV71zt7SI
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 19, 2025
17 - Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe has scored after the second-longest sequence of passes against Pep Guardiola's Manchester City in the Champions League (17), behind Ismaily's goal for Shakhtar Donetsk in December 2017 (24). Hypnosis. pic.twitter.com/VD0gmvtXLD
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) February 19, 2025
No player has more goals in the knockout stages of the Champions League since 2016/17 than Kylian Mbappé (23). 👏 https://t.co/BGcCQIOhOC
— Squawka (@Squawka) February 19, 2025
Most Champions League goals scored against Man City:
— Squawka (@Squawka) February 19, 2025
◎ 7 - Lionel Messi
◎ 6 - Karim Benzema
◉ 6 - Kylian Mbappé
The Frenchman is the only player to score in both legs of a knockout stage tie against Manchester City in the UCL twice. ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/C0Q6fXwMmw
3 - Kylian Mbappé is the only player in the history of the European Cup/Champions League to score a hat-trick at the Santiago Bernabéu, with Real Madrid today against City, and at the Camp Nou, against Barcelona with PSG in 2021. Sidereal. pic.twitter.com/IfwhelsPzi
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) February 19, 2025
WHAT NEXT?
Real Madrid will take on either Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen in the next round of the Champions League, while Man City's journey in the 2024-25 competition is over, and their exit at the playoff stage is a huge surprise.
Man City's attention will now switch back to the Premier League, preparing to welcome Liverpool to Anfield on Sunday for a huge fixture, while Real Madrid's La Liga title defence will continue at home to Girona on the same afternoon.
Matt Law
