Kylian Mbappé delivered a masterclass at the Santiago Bernabéu, scoring a stunning hat-trick as Real Madrid overpowered Manchester City 3-1, all but ending Pep Guardiola’s dream of back-to-back UEFA Champions League titles. The French superstar, who is heavily linked with a move to Madrid in the summer, showed exactly why Los Blancos are so eager to secure his signature.
Right from the start, Mbappé tormented City’s defense with his blistering pace and clinical finishing. He opened the scoring with a composed strike in the first half before adding two more in the second, silencing Guardiola’s men. Manchester City, despite their usual dominance in possession, struggled to contain Madrid’s lethal counterattacks.
Kevin De Bruyne managed to pull one back for City, but Madrid’s solid defense, marshaled by Antonio Rüdiger, ensured the visitors couldn’t find a way back into the match. Erling Haaland, marked out of the game, had a frustrating night as he failed to trouble the Madrid backline.
With this emphatic win, Real Madrid take a commanding lead into the second leg, leaving City with a mountain to climb at the Etihad. If Mbappé was sending a message to his future club, it was loud and clear—he belongs on the biggest stage, and he just might be Madrid’s next Galáctico.
With a two-goal cushion, Real Madrid will head into the second leg full of confidence, while Guardiola’s City must produce a special performance at the Etihad if they are to keep their Champions League hopes alive. Another epic night in Madrid—can City bounce back, or is another European heartbreak on the cards?
Highlights;
