Manchester City possibly have been knocked out of the Champions League after a dramatic 3-2 defeat to Real Madrid. The first leg of the knockout play-off took place at the Etihad on 11 February 2025. Despite an early lead from Erling Haaland, City could not hold on.
City started well as Haaland scored within 20 minutes after a lengthy VAR check. Later, Kylian Mbappe equalised for Real Madrid at the 60-minute mark. Then Haaland restored City’s lead with a penalty in the final ten minutes.
However, a late capitulation allowed Real Madrid to score a decisive goal. This gave them a 3-2 lead heading into the second leg at the Bernabeu. Consequently, pressure now mounts on City’s goalkeeper, Ederson.
After the match, an experienced commentator expressed his disbelief. He compared City’s challenge to a similar collapse in a past cup tie. Clearly, he insisted that City now has no realistic path to progress.
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Moreover, City’s elimination from the Carabao Cup compounds their troubles. They also trail by 15 points behind the league leaders. As a result, the FA Cup remains their only hope for silverware this season.
In his post-match analysis, the expert praised City’s early performance. Yet he warned that the collapse would damage team morale. Consequently, doubts now surround their ability to overturn the deficit in the second leg.
Real Madrid now hold a comfortable lead and enjoy home advantage. Furthermore, they have a proven record of dismantling tough opponents. Thus, turning the tie around appears nearly impossible for City.
Ultimately, insiders hope the season will soon end. They plan to focus on a rebuild following the January transfer window. Therefore, this disappointing campaign may mark a turning point despite lingering FA Cup ambitions.
