Leading up to this crucial match, Manchester City prepared well, securing an impressive 4-0 victory over Newcastle in Premier League Matchweek 25. That result lifted City back into the top 4, providing a major morale boost ahead of their trip to Madrid. In contrast, Real Madrid once again disappointed in La Liga over the weekend. In their 1-1 draw at Osasuna, Los Blancos failed to capitalize, marking their third consecutive slip-up in the Spanish league (1 loss, 2 draws), which saw them lose the top spot to Barcelona.
In the first leg, despite having the home advantage and twice leading 2-1 until the 85th minute, City faltered defensively, conceding two goals in the final minutes (86th and 90+2), resulting in a 3-2 loss. That painful defeat left City with no margin for error, and they entered the Bernabéu with a "nothing to lose" mentality. As a result, the game kicked off with high intensity. In the fourth minute, Real Madrid took the lead through Kylian Mbappé. A long pass from Asensio caught City’s defense off guard, with Dias failing to clear the ball, allowing Mbappé to chip it into the net.
The early goal gave Madrid a perfect start, and they continued to pressure City. The visitors were under siege, with Bellingham and Mbappé constantly threatening City’s goal. In the 32nd minute, Real doubled their lead, with Mbappé finishing off a brilliant team move involving Bellingham, Vinícius, and Rodrygo. He twisted past Gvardiol and slotted home to make it 2-0. The remainder of the first half saw no major events, and the scoreline remained 2-0 at halftime.
In the second half, Real Madrid continued to dominate, consistently testing City's defense with shots from Rodrygo and Mbappé. In the 61st minute, Mbappé completed his hat trick, receiving a pass from Valverde, spinning past Foden, and firing a clinical low shot past City’s goalkeeper to make it 3-0. Man City struggled to break through, but they found some consolation in the final moments. In the 90+2 minute, Nico González pounced on a rebound from Marmoush’s free kick that hit the crossbar, pulling one back for City to make it 3-1.
In the end, Real Madrid secured a 6-3 aggregate victory over Manchester City, advancing confidently. The kings of the Champions League are once again on the path to defending their title. With recent seasons showing that the winner of this matchup often goes on to lift the trophy, the phrase "win, and you’ll crown yourself" is more than fitting.
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