UCL: Real Madrid Crush Ten-Man City to Reach Quarters
Written by Abidoye Babatunde Blackcoin on 18 — 03
BY: Godwin David – Lagos
Real Madrid advanced comfortably to the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals, defeating Manchester City from the tournament for the third consecutive season with a 5-1 aggregate win.
The momentum shifted dramatically in the 20th minute when Bernardo Silva was sent off after a VAR review determined he had blocked the ball on the goal line with his arm. Vinícius calmly converted the resulting penalty, sending Gianluigi Donnarumma the wrong way.
City adopted a bold 5-1-3 formation, with Jeremy Doku nearly scoring a second before being flagged offside. Madrid countered by introducing Kylian Mbappe, but City pressed on, only for Rayan Ait-Nouri’s goal to also be disallowed.
Before halftime, City managed to pull one back. In the 41st minute, Erling Haaland tapped in at the back post after a deflected cross from Jeremy Doku. Earlier in the game, the Brazilian winger had squandered two clear chances in rapid succession that could have effectively sealed the match much sooner.
In stoppage time, Vinicius Jr. sealed the match with his second goal after an earlier VAR decision denied him. Despite taunts from the City crowd, still reminiscent of Rodri beating him to the 2024 Ballon d’Or, the night ultimately belonged to Vinicius and Madrid.
