Man City 2-3 Real Madrid: Winners and losers as Pep’s side collapse again despite landmark Haaland goals | OneFootball

Manchester City once again snatched defeat from the jaws of victory as they lost 3-2 at home to Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League round of 32 tie.

Erling Haaland gave the hosts the lead in the 19th minute, while the Norwegian doubled his tally from the bench in the 80th minute, 20 minutes after Kylian Mbappe had drawn Real Madrid level.

That felt like enough for City, but as they’ve done so many times this season already, they collapsed, conceding two goals in six minutes at the end to Brahim Diaz and Jude Bellingham to suffer a 3-2 defeat.

Heading to the Santiago Bernabeu chasing a goal in the second leg is not an enviable position but before that task, let’s have a look at the winners and losers of this match.

Winner: Erling Haaland

There aren’t many teams that have been able to boast a perfect record against Erling Haaland but Real Madrid were one of them. Until tonight.

Heading into the 19th minute of Tuesday’s match, Haaland had failed to score in 377 minutes and 13 shots against the 15-time European champions, experiencing uncharacteristic frustration as both a Man City and Borussia Dortmund player.

However, Haaland opened the scoring at the Etihad in this first-leg clash with a cool finish after an excellent City move, while he netted from the penalty spot in the 80th minute to put City back in front for a lead they should have held on to.

Of course, they didn’t, and we’ll get to that. But for Haaland, it’s another team ticked off his list, while he also overtook Sergio Aguero’s 47 Champions League goals, with his brace taking him to 49.

Loser: Ederson & Rico Lewis

Man City’s capitulations this season have been absolutely incredible to watch. Not just for the spectacles themselves, but also their sheer regularity. What was previously a once-per-season occurrence (if that) has now become a monthly event for City — and sometimes even weekly or more.

Leading 2-1 heading into the 86th minute, City were looking relatively comfortable after riding out Real Madrid pressure and punishing them with two Haaland goals. While Los Blancos are never dead, they weren’t exactly knocking their hosts onto the canvas.

Well, they weren’t until they did.

It took two poor errors from Ederson and Rico Lewis, but Real Madrid struck twice in six minutes at the end of the game to snatch what could be a priceless 3-2 first-leg away win.

You can think back to Feyenoord, PSG and Sporting CP in the Champions League alone as games where City took the lead only to capitulate. It’s just stunning to see but rather than anything tactical or fitness-related, Guardiola will be furious that this one came about after two individual errors.

Winner: Kylian Mbappe

Kylian Mbappe really is in full flow as a Real Madrid player now and on Tuesday, he came up with another big moment.

It was a little bizarre, with Dani Ceballos’ chipped pass coming off Mbappe’s shin as he tried to volley it home. However, that ended up working to his advantage as it completely wrong-footed City goalkeeper Ederson, going over the line almost in slow motion.

Mbappe has scored much prettier goals but they all count, and his emphatic celebration proved that.

And not only did this lucky strike contribute to a massive win for City, but it also took him to 52 Champions League goals, one clear of another French striker we know Mbappe is very familiar with…

Loser: Manuel Akanji & Jack Grealish

City’s defeat has come at a much bigger cost than just trailing by a goal heading into the second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu. The physio department at the Etihad will now be working overtime to try and assess the damage with City losing not one but two players to injury.

Jack Grealish was the first to fall, coming off on the half-hour mark after going down in clear discomfort. The England international looked understandably frustrated, especially considering this was the first time he’s managed to make the pitch in a Premier League or Champions League match since January 22nd, watching games against Chelsea, Club Brugge and Arsenal as an unused substitute.

It then got worse for City when Manuel Akanji was unable to emerge from the half-time break after sustaining an injury late into the opening half. Rico Lewis was the man to replace the Switzerland international, who was playing a vital role as a destroyer on the right side of City’s defence.

Guardiola could do without a major injury crisis adding to his headaches right now.

Winner: Carlo Ancelotti

The most successful manager in competition history, this game once again proved why Carlo Ancelotti is the Champions League king.

There is no hurdle too big for the Italian in this competition, with his teams — especially this Real Madrid side — never quite knowing when they’re beaten and always looking dangerous, no matter how bleak things look.

But more than anything, Ancelotti will likely be relieved to see his record improve against one of the few managers he’s struggled against over the years.

This was the 13th meeting between Ancelotti and fellow managerial giant Guardiola, with the latter holding a 6-3 advantage in the head-to-head stakes prior to kick-off.

Ancelotti has now closed the gap with his first normal-time win against Guardiola since May 2022, ending a four-game run without such a result.

The Italian will now look to repeat the feat in the second leg, closing the gap further and taking Los Blancos one step closer to yet more Champions League glory.

Loser: Pep Guardiola

If Ancelotti is a winner here, Guardiola would naturally find himself in the loser category.

However, it’s more than just losing against a managerial rival. You only had to look at the anguish on Guardiola’s face when Bellingham scored a later winner to see just how much this result has hurt him. And that’s not at all surprising, with Guardiola facing the toughest test of his managerial career so far, at a loss for why his previously all-conquering side have become incapable of seeing out a result or putting a solid run together.

Man City have now conceded 57 goals in 38 games across all competitions this season, three more than they did in 59 games last term. Only in 2016-17 (60) have they conceded more in a campaign under Pep Guardiola.

the Spaniard will be wondering what he has to do to steady the ship and stop the leaks, but this one is a gut punch like no other.

Winner: Brahim Diaz

It’s always nice to end with a positive and that’s how Brahim Diaz will be feeling right now.

The Morocco international, of course, played 15 times for Man City between 2016 and 2019, scoring twice but never quite establishing himself before heading to Real Madrid. Diaz has never been a regular starter there either, but he does have a habit of finding important goals at important times.

None will taste as sweet as the one he’s netted against his former club here, kick-starting the late comeback just two minutes after coming on, opening his Champions League account for the season and ending a seven-game drought across all competitions.

Incidentally, three of Diaz’s five Champions League goals have come against English sides – against Liverpool and Tottenham with Milan, and one here.

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