Real Madrid keep their cool as Manchester City implode again in Champions League classic Manchester City 2-3 Real Madrid: Jude Bellingham scored in stoppage time as the visitors scripted a familiar Champions League story.
If the scoreline was shaped by Real’s lack of defenders – in contrast, City began with five who could be called specialist centre-backs – it ended up being defined by the firepower of Real, with their formidable front four.
City, the side who had squeezed through to the knockout phase in 22nd place, the team who had lost to Brighton and Bournemouth, to clubs from London and Liverpool and Lisbon, stirred from their mediocrity, regaining a sense of dynamism, as though feeling Real are their real peers.
A performance out of keeping with Manchester City’s season nevertheless produced a result out of keeping with Real Madrid’s history.
On an evening when City began by taunting Vinicius Jr, a giant flag showing Rodri kissing the Ballon d’Or and with the Oasis inspired message of “Stop Crying Your Heart Out”, ended with the Brazilian’s brilliance pushing them a step closer to the exit.
