Jude Bellingham scored in stoppage time as Actual Madrid surprised Manchester Metropolis with a late 3-2 victory within the first leg of their Champions League knockout play-off tie.
Former Metropolis academy participant Brahim Diaz had already silenced the Etihad with a late equaliser within the 86th minute earlier than England midfielder Bellingham raced onto Vinicius Jr’s cross to safe a dramatic victory.
Metropolis seemed to be heading into subsequent week’s second leg with the benefit after Erling Haaland scored his second of the sport from the penalty spot with 10 minutes to play after Kylian Mbappe had cancelled out the Norwegian’s first-half opener.
However Diaz, who had simply been launched, took benefit of Ederson’s clumsy try to collect the ball to make sure
Metropolis’s contingent spoke about utilizing the tie to show they’re nonetheless one of many world’s high groups however began the sport with the identical defensive shakiness that has plagued their season up to now, with Actual introduced with a variety of alternatives early on.
Ederson was saved by the offside flag after bringing Vinicius Jr down within the field earlier than Kylian Mbappe stung the palms of the Brazilian with a shot from a decent angle after which Vinicius couln’t discover his ft contained in the field.
However the way in which Metropolis went forward a couple of moments later was a reminder of their class, with Haaland firing house after a slick mixture involving Jack Grealish and Josko Gvardiol.
Grealish, given a uncommon begin to impress, discovered area on the left and fantastically clipped the ball excessive to Gvardiol, who chested it into the trail of Haaland and the striker did the remaining in an enormous enhance for the hosts.
ERLING HAALAND’S FIRST GOAL AGAINST REAL MADRID!
#UCLonPrime pic.twitter.com/LEuBBBbmie
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) February 11, 2025
Phil Foden, launched for the unlucky Grealish who had began nicely earlier than his withdrawal on half an hour, tried his luck from lengthy vary however Thibaut Courtois was equal to it this time.
Actual put the strain on early within the second half with Mbappe denied from shut vary by Ederson who dived low to his left to dam the France ahead’s shot after a pleasant transfer down the proper.
The 26-year-old’s connection on these earlier efforts was significantly better than ther one which ultimately did discover the web as he awkwardly struck Dani Ceballos’ cross to the far submit, wrong-footing Ederson and discovering the web.
KYLIAN MBAPPE EQUALISES FOR REAL MADRID!
A objective off his shin, however he doesn’t care!#UCLonPrime pic.twitter.com/JRJSJZOnM3
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) February 11, 2025
A mazy Foden run allowed Metropolis to revive their lead from the penalty spot with lower than quarter-hour remaining after Ceballos tripped the England man contained in the field.
Up stepped Haaland, who made no mistake as he despatched the keeper the mistaken approach for his forty ninth Champions League objective.
However simply when Metropolis appeared like they’d earned themselves the benefit earlier than heading to the Bernabeu, former Metropolis teenager Brahim Diaz lashed in on the rebound after Ederson had failed to collect Bellingham’s strike.
INSTANT IMPACT!
Moments after coming off the bench for Actual Madrid, Brahim Díaz equalises!#UCLonPrime pic.twitter.com/R8AvGKPb7W
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) February 11, 2025
After which with just about the final kick of the sport, Vinicius lobbed Ederson who had come racing out of his objective and Bellingham was the quickest to latch onto it and the England ahead had a straightforward end to safe an exhilarating victory.
IT’S HAPPENED AGAIN!
Man Metropolis AGONY on the Etihad as Actual Madrid lead!
#UCLonPrime pic.twitter.com/vLL8j9Wuz6
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) February 11, 2025
