City face huge Champions League task after Real Madrid defeat | OneFootball

Manchester City must fight back from three goals down following our 3-0 defeat to Real Madrid in our Champions League Round of 16 first leg.

Pep Guardiola’s side were left stunned by a first half hat-trick from Federico Valverde who scored his first goals in Europe this season.

The home side had a huge opportunity to extend their lead from the penalty spot in the second half but Gianluigi Donnarumma kept out Vinicius Junior’s effort.

Nico O’Reilly almost pulled a goal back late on but was denied by Thibaut Courtois’ instinctive save from close range to leave City with an uphill battle when we meet in the second leg at the Etihad on Tuesday, 17 March.

The game in 250 words

Battles between City and Madrid have become unmissable fixtures in recent years with this latest encounter being the 10th meeting in the past five seasons.

Both sides, among the strongest in Europe, have had their moments on top during that period – but there was no mistaking who was in command during the first half in the Bernabeu.

City started the opening exchanges the better with Jeremy Doku sending over two early crosses that just evaded a finish.

However, Madrid showed their clinical side with Valverde scoring twice in the space of seven minutes midway through the half as the home side took control.

Donnarumma had made the first save of the game, denying Brahim Diaz although replays showed the former City forward was in an offside position.

But the Italian was beaten in the 20th minute with a direct goal from the home side when Valverde latched onto Courtois’ long ball that was reminiscent of Ederson at his best.

The Uruguayan’s first touch took him away from O’Reilly and he then took the ball around Donnarumma before squeezing home the opener from a tight angle.

We were undone again seven minutes later when Vinicius Junior’s misplaced pass bounced into the path of Valverde and he clipped a low shot just beyond Donnarumma.

It brought the stadium to life and gave extra belief to Real Madrid who treble-teamed dangerman Doku at one stage to stop him getting any space.

And it got even better for the home fans with Valverde completing his hat-trick with a superb individual strike, lifting the ball over Marc Guéhi to volley into the net.

Courtois was called into his first serious action 10 minutes after the restart keeping out Semenyo’s low shot at the near post.

But from the corner, Real broke to the other end of the pitch through Vinicius Junior who won a penalty when he went down taking the ball around Donnarumma.

The City keeper didn’t look impressed with the decision and got his revenge when he guessed right to keep out the Brazilian’s spot-kick.

O’Reilly was so close to pulling a goal back when he caught Pitarch in his own box but Courtois stuck out a leg to divert over the top and hold onto their three-goal lead ahead of their visit to the Etihad.

Teams

REAL MADRID: Courtois, Alexander-Arnold (Carvajal 83), Rudiger, Huijsen, F. Mendy (Garcia 46), Tchouameni, Valverde (C), Brahim (Mastantuono 76), Pitarch (Angel 76), Guler (Camavinga 70), Vinicius

Subs not used: Lunin, Gonzalez, Gonzalo, Asencio, Aguado, Cestero, Palacios

CITY: Donnarumma, Khusanov, Dias, Guéhi, O’Reilly, Rodri, Bernardo (C) (Cherki 70), Savinho (Reijnders 46), Semenyo (Ait-Nouri 70), Doku, Haaland (Marmoush 82)

Subs not used: Trafford, Bettinelli, Stones, Ake, Nico, Nunes, Foden, Alleyne

Debut disappointment

It should have been a memorable night for Guéhi and Semenyo but it’s one, no doubt, they’ll want to forget.

Both players were making their Champions League debuts for City marking a proud milestone in their blossoming careers.

For Semenyo in particular it’s been a remarkable journey, that has taken in the non-league, every division in England and right up to the pinnacle of European football.

Now they will be determined to make their second experience of the Champions League extra special.

Ready to fight

There’s no question that City have a huge mountain to climb if we are to make it into the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

We have, of course, beaten Real Madrid by four goals in the past, that unforgettable 4-0 destruction in 2023 on our way to winning the trophy.

Guardiola and his players certainly won’t give up and City showed our fighting spirit when the tie could have been dead and buried.

Donnarumma’s penalty save could yet prove to be a pivotal moment if we are to somehow overturn a tie that could have spiralled out of all control.

Bernardo reaction

“It is a tough stadium to play at. We are used to playing at these stadiums because playing at Anfield and St James’ Park is very tough. You need to go through these moments to become better and today was just a learning game for the whole team.

“It is quite frustrating [we didn’t score], even though we believe it is still possible because in football a lot of things can happen, at half-time we were saying, ‘the situation is bad’ there were a lot of things that shouldn’t have happened but with one goal you are in the tie.

“At 3-0 it makes it a bit more difficult. Now it feels really bad, now it feels really dark. Tomorrow is another day and for sure next week we will go to the game thinking we have a chance.

“Right now is the moment to reflect and see what we didn’t do right. Then next week when we are preparing we will be hopeful we can do something.”

Guardiola reaction

“Now it’s [about] recovering mentally a little bit, the physicality, and go to West Ham in London - it will be tough - for the Premier League, still we are there.

“And after, we’ll see, with our people - I’m pretty sure they will come [to the Etihad Stadium], and in football you never know if we’re going to find something, or we’re going to read what they have to do, and we’ll try.”

What it means

With the away goal rule dispatched into the history books, the challenge for the Blues is simple.

City need to beat Real Madrid by four goals to progress or by three to take the tie to extra-time at the Etihad and possibly penalties.

What’s next

We return to Premier League action on Saturday 14 March at 20:00 (UK) with a trip to West Ham.

Then it’s our return leg against Real at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday 17 March, also kicking off at 20:00 (UK).

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