Manchester City 1 Real Madrid 3: City player ratings as Manchester City surrender at the Bernabeu | OneFootball

Manchester City 1  (Nico 90′)

Real Madrid 3 (Kylian Mbappe 4′, 33′, 60′)

Real Madrid progress 6-3 on aggregate.

Here are the City player ratings as Manchester City crashed out of the Champions League with a 3-1 defeat to Real Madrid at the Bernabeu. Pep Guardiola’s side was outclassed and outworked on the night, and the result on the night and over the two legs reflected where the two teams currently stand. The City player ratings reflect this and the manner of City’s defeat.

The biggest surprise before kickoff was that Erling Haaland was named on the bench for the match. City’s top-scorer wasn’t fit enough to start tonight’s match, as per Pep Guardiola’s pre-game update. The game kicked off with Manchester City needing to win tonight’s match so the scene was set for a massive Champions League fixture at the Bernabeu.

First half

The game kicked off with the equation well-known for Manchester City. They simply had to win and started the game looking confident in possession. But Real Madrid would take the lead in the fourth minute. A simple long ball split City’s defence and Ruben Dias failed to deal with the long ball. Kylian Mbappe seized upon the opportunity to chip Ederson and make it a mountain to climb for Pep Guardiola’s side. It was a quality ball from Raul Asencio and a sublime finish from Mbappe. Manchester City had it all to do after Madrid’s fast start.

It would get worse for Manchester City a minute later. John Stones would go down with an injury to be replaced by Nathan Ake. That summed up City’s start to the evening at the Bernabeu.

Following Real Madrid’s fast start, the game settled into a pattern. Manchester City has their moments in possession but Real Madrid did look like the more threatening side. They had several shots blocked, and a Jude Bellingham flick from a corner flashed past the post from the 5th minute until the 20th. But Pep Guardiola’s side was up against it in the game’s early stages.

Kylian Mbappe makes it 2-nil as Manchester City can’t deal with Real Madrid’s quality.

In the 29th minute, Kylian Mbappe has a chance saved by Ederson. It was a carbon copy of the build-up to Mbappe’s first goal of the night. This time Ederson stayed on his line to make a comfortable save. But the warning was there for Pep Guardiola’s side and Madrid would make it 2-nil minutes later.

In the 33rd minute, a Rodrygo run after a spell of Real Madrid pressure cut open City’s defence. The Brazilian winger played the ball to Mbappe, whose quick feet set up the chance for himself, and he emphatically beat Ederson to make it 2-nil and 5-2 on aggregate. It was no less than Real Madrid deserved as Pep Guardiola’s side was wilting at the Bernabeu.

At halftime, Real Madrid would take a 2-nil lead into the interval. They also led the tie 5-2 on aggregate. It would take a miracle for Manchester City to overturn the deficit and the circumstances of the match. Based on what we had seen in the first half, the chances of that occurring appeared to be slim.

Second half

The second half kicked off with Manchester City needing to show something in the second half. It didn’t begin with any positive signs for Pep Guardiola’s side as Nico picked up a yellow card within a minute of the restart.

But the second half followed the pattern of the first for the opening 10 minutes. Real Madrid dominated possession and created some decent half-chances and Manchester City couldn’t get near the hosts. One team was full of confidence, and the other was clearly a team in transition.

Kylian Mbappe completes his hat trick as Real Madrid continued on their merry way.

Kylian Mbappe would complete his hat trick on the hour mark. A swift Real Madrid counter from a Manchester City corner gave the hosts the space they needed to make Manchester City pay. Mbappe finished with aplomb to complete his hat trick. It was threatening to be a horrible night for the world champions as Real Madrid were running riot.

Following Mbappe’s third goal the game has become a procession. A host of chances came and went for Real Madrid. The best came to Vinicius Junior in the 73rd minute. His shot from the left-hand side of City’s area was well saved by Ederson.

Phil Foden had a strike from outside the Real Madrid area saved by Thibaut Courtois in the 75th minute. It was City’s first shot on target which says it all about how the game was playing out. Bernardo Silva then fired over 2 minutes later, but it was a case of too little too late for Pep Guardiola’s side.

Nico scores a consolation goal for Manchester City.

Manchester City would pull a goal back in the 90th minute. An Omar Marmoush free-kick from the edge of the Real Madrid beat Thibaut Courtois but crashed into the crossbar. Nico was on hand to tap in to score his first goal for Manchester City. The goal made the scoreline respectable but the manner of City’s defeat was not.

From there the final whistle came as the curtain fell on Manchester City’s 2024/25 Champions League campaign. Tonight’s performance perfectly summed up City’s Champions League campaign, which was disappointing, to say the least.

Summary

The City player ratings reflect the manner of Manchester City’s defeat. Although several of the Manchester City players tried hard they were well and truly outclassed on the night. There was no other conclusion to draw as the scale of Manchester City’s rebuild came into view at the Bernabeu.

City player ratings

Ederson-6/10: Ederson could do little about any of Real Madrid’s goals and made one good save. His team’s performance didn’t help him in goal tonight.

Abdukodir Khusanov-6.5/10: For me, Khusanov was City’s best player on the night. Yes, he made some errors, but he was played out of position and he did make some key challenges. A good learning experience for Khusanov.

John Stones-N/A: Went off injured after seven minutes. He was caught out alongside Ruben Dias for Mbappe’s opener before injury struck.

Ruben Dias-4.5/10: He looked like a player who didn’t have the sharpness required for a match of tonight’s magnitude. Made an error early but did provide some crucial blocks throughout the game. Not his best display.

Josko Gvardiol-5/10: One of City’s better players but he was nowhere near his best.

Nico-5/10: He was left with too much to do in midfield. Battled away but in the end was swamped as Real Madrid’s legs in midfield were too much. He scored his first goal for Manchester City which was the only positive of the night for Pep Guardiola’s side.

Ilkay Gundogan-4/10: Like so many of his teammates he was overrun all over the pitch before being substituted. He wasn’t alone on that front in a poor City performance.

Bernardo Silva-4/10: Like so many of his teammates he couldn’t keep up in midfield. Battled away but not at his best.

Phil Foden-5/10: Foden tried hard before being substituted. He deserves credit for that as his team was thoroughly outclassed.

Savinho-4/10: Couldn’t get into the game as he didn’t get the opportunities he needed to shine. A valuable learning experience for the young winger.

Omar Marmoush-6/10: Toiled away up front but lacked service until the game was over. To his credit, he never gave up ,and his free kick did lead to Nico’s goal.

Substitutes

Nathan Ake-5/10: Came on for John Stones and toiled away after that. He didn’t stand out at the back but no one did for Pep Guardiola’s side.

James McAtee-N/A: Not on long enough to mark.

Mateo Kovacic-N/A: Not on long enough to mark.