Bellingham's late strike punishes City

MANCHESTER, England — Real Madrid's Galacticos just don't know when they are beaten, while Manchester City just keeps on making the same mistakes.

Jude Bellingham's stoppage-time goal sealed a stunning comeback for Madrid and a 3-2 lead in its Champions League playoff against City.

In six frantic minutes at the end of a breathless first leg Tuesday, the Spanish giant scored twice to take a precious advantage into next week's match at the Bernabeu.

The clubs are facing off for the fourth consecutive season in the Champions League.

Madrid came out on top in two of the previous three ties, but on each occasion its trip to the Etihad was a chastening one.

In both 2022 and 2023, Carlo Ancelotti's men shipped four goals, while last year they clung on bravely for a 1-1 draw, before progressing on penalties.

This time it was a different story, long before the late twist in the tale.

"It was a weird one. We played some of our best football of the season and ended up behind," said England star Bellingham.

City led 2-1 after 80 minutes through goals in each half from Erling Haaland. But Brahim Diaz and then Bellingham silenced the home crowd, and extended a sorry record for City that has seen it concede seven goals in the last 15 minutes of Champions League games this season.

"We need to see games out better, that's for sure," City defender John Stones said. "We have to stay positive, which is difficult right now."

Bellingham slid in to convert Vinicius Jr's lobbed pass in the second minute of added time to bring back memories of Madrid's dramatic comeback against City in the semifinal in 2022. Then, it was Rodrygo who scored twice after the 90th minute and Madrid eventually sent Pep Guardiola's team crashing out in extra time.

At least City has a chance to salvage the tie in the second leg, but the sense of deflation was clear after such a late collapse.

"The truth is, we are not stable enough. It's not the first time, unfortunately. It has happened many times and that's why it's difficult," Guardiola said. "I've been here for many years, and we have been an extraordinary team.

"But, at the moment I'm not able...I'm not good enough, you know, to give something, to (give) composure, to the team, to (know) how to manage the situations.

"In the end, we gave it away ourselves, and, at this level, it's so difficult. It's not the first time."

It was another thrilling, white knuckle-ride of a game between these two giants of European soccer, and a one-goal advantage for Madrid means there is still all to play for.

Defeat ended City's 35-game unbeaten run at home in the Champions League, dating back to 2018.

City took the lead through Haaland's 19-minute goal.

By that stage, Madrid had seen a penalty overturned for offside and a goalbound effort from Ferland Mendy blocked by Manuel Akanji.

Vinicius then hit the bar with a curling shot and Akanji also clipped the frame of the goal with a header.

Haaland hit the bar again less than a minute into the second half.

Madrid equalized on the hour through a freakish goal from Mbappe, when his miskicked volley wrong-footed Ederson and looped softly over the line.

Mbappe hit the post with another chance before Dani Ceballos brought Phil Foden down just inside the box, and Haaland's penalty restored City's lead.

On came former City academy player Diaz, who left City for Madrid in 2019, to level the game again before Bellingham's winner.

"I don't care what form City are in, they are still an unbelievable team and so difficult to play against, the way they move you and manipulate your position," Bellingham said.

"It's always really tricky to play against them, and, in the end we took one of the many chances, finally, and made it count."

City splashed out more than $211 million in the January transfer window in a desperate attempt to revive its fortunes.

But none of Nico Gonzalez, Omar Marmoush or Abdukodir Khusanov started, while Vitor Reis was not included in City's European squad for the knockout stages.

Instead, Guardiola put his faith in those that have delivered for him in the past.

Not for the first time this season, they ran out of steam in the closing stages, as Madrid took a massive step towards ending City's Champions League dream for the third time in four years.

Agencies