By Real Madrid secured a dramatic 3-2 victory over Manchester City in the first leg of their Champions League knockout play-off, with Jude Bellingham netting a stoppage-time winner at the Etihad Stadium. City twice took the lead through Erling Haaland, but Madrid responded with goals from Kylian Mbappe and substitute Brahim Diaz before Bellingham sealed the win.
John Stones voiced his disappointment after City failed to capitalize on their advantage, describing the result as one of “anger and frustration.”
Stones: “We Need to See Games Out Better”
Reflecting on the loss, Stones emphasized the importance of maintaining composure in high-pressure moments.
“We need to see games out better. The manager told us we must take accountability for what happens on the pitch. We had a great opportunity to go to the Bernabéu with a 2-1 lead, but it’s not over. We have to stay positive, even though it’s difficult right now,” he said.
This marks the fourth consecutive season that City and Madrid have faced off in the Champions League knockout stages, with the second leg scheduled for February 19 at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Guardiola: “We Are Not Stable Enough to Handle Pressure”
Pep Guardiola fielded five centre-backs in his starting lineup to neutralize Madrid’s attacking threat, but defensive lapses proved costly. Errors from goalkeeper Ederson and substitute Rico Lewis contributed to Madrid’s comeback, a trend that has plagued City in recent Champions League matches.
“Players make decisions in the moment—sometimes they work, sometimes they don’t. Today, we lacked composure in key situations. We created chances and played well, but in crucial moments, we couldn’t manage the game properly,” Guardiola admitted.
City have now failed to win any of their last four Champions League matches after scoring first, and their defensive struggles continue, with 57 goals conceded in 38 matches across all competitions this season—already surpassing last season’s total.
Vinicius Junior: “Ballon d’Or Banner Gave Me Strength”
Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior revealed that a banner displayed by Manchester City fans served as extra motivation. The banner, featuring an image of Rodri kissing his Ballon d’Or trophy alongside the words “Stop Crying Your Heart Out”, referenced Vinicius finishing second to the City midfielder in last year’s voting.
“I saw the banner. Whenever the opposing fans do things like that, they give me more strength to play my best, and today I did just that,” Vinicius told Movistar.
Despite the attempt to unsettle him, the Brazilian forward played a key role in Madrid’s comeback, ensuring the Spanish giants head into the second leg with an advantage.
With the return fixture set for February 19, Manchester City must regroup quickly if they hope to overturn the deficit and keep their Champions League hopes alive.
