Hat-Trick Hero Mbappé Seals Historic Win
Real Madrid secured a dominant 3-1 victory over Manchester City, closing the Champions League tie with a commanding 6-3 aggregate. Kylian Mbappé was unstoppable, delivering a stunning hat-trick that propelled the defending champions into the Round of 16.
Fast Start for Los Blancos
Carlo Ancelotti’s side struck early, catching City off guard just four minutes in. A long pass found Mbappé in open space after Rúben Dias failed to intercept. The French star coolly chipped over goalkeeper Ederson, opening the scoring with style.
City’s night worsened when John Stones left injured in the 8th minute. Pep Guardiola’s surprising decision to bench Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne left his side struggling for answers.
Madrid’s Total Domination
By the 33rd minute, Madrid doubled their lead. A slick team play ended with Vinícius Jr. assisting Rodrygo, who executed a brilliant nutmeg before Mbappé finished with precision, making it 2-0 and extending the aggregate to 5-2.
City couldn’t break through Madrid’s solid defense, with Guardiola delaying changes until it was too late.
Mbappé Completes the Rout
Mbappé’s third goal came in the 61st minute. A dazzling dribble on the right wing opened space for a low, powerful shot that slipped past Ederson, sealing a memorable hat-trick and a 6-2 lead on aggregate.
City’s only consolation came from Nico González, whose late goal couldn’t shift the inevitable result.
Round of 16 Draw Awaits
Real Madrid now awaits the Round of 16 draw on Friday, with several potential heavyweight clashes ahead:
- PSG or Benfica vs. Barcelona or Liverpool
- Club Brugge or Borussia Dortmund vs. Aston Villa or Lille
- Bayern Munich or Real Madrid vs. Atlético Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen
- PSV or Feyenoord vs. Arsenal or Inter Milan
Other Big Results
- PSG 7-0 Brest: A commanding performance.
- Borussia Dortmund 0-0 Sporting CP: Enough to advance.
- PSV 3-1 Juventus: A strong showing from the Dutch side.
With these results, PSG, Borussia Dortmund, and PSV join Real Madrid in the next round, setting the stage for an exciting knockout phase.
