Mbappe’s Stunning Hat-trick Dumps Outclassed Man City Out
Source:Â http://richportaltv.com
At the Bernabeu, Kylian Mbappe’s incredible hat trick led champion Real Madrid to a resounding victory and a spot in the round of 16, ending Manchester City’s Champions League campaign.
Mbappe’s accurate lob from Raul Asencio’s pass doubled their lead after four minutes, thus ending Pep Guardiola’s team’s attempt to overturn a 3-2 deficit from the playoff first leg.
City’s predicament worsened shortly after Mbappe’s opening goal when they lost defender John Stones to injury, leaving Erling Haaland just fit enough to play on the bench.
Additionally, Mbappe’s incredible close control to wrong-foot Josko Gvardiol and defeat Ederson after 33 minutes brought City’s earliest Champions League exit since they failed to advance out of the group in 2012–13 one step closer.
Just after the hour, the France forward scored his third goal with a low shot as City gave up. Throughout the evening, they were outclassed and could hardly hold Real Madrid.
On a desperate night for the defending Premier League winners, City pulled one back when Nico Gonzalez scored his first goal for the team after Omar Marmoush’s free-kick struck the crossbar.
It was a chastening experience for Guardiola, whose discomfort was particularly relished by Real’s fans because of his old Barcelona allegiances, as he faces a mammoth task to rebuild and restore City to Europe’s top table.
Guardiola admitted Manchester City would have to suffer at the Bernabeu—and no one seemed to be suffering more than the man who must rebuild this fallen side after this dismal defeat.
They were dealt a bitter blow before kick-off when Haaland failed to recover fully from the knee injury he picked up against Newcastle United on Saturday, robbing his manager of his main attacking threat.
The concession of the early goal was the nightmare Guardiola must have feared; his despair flashed on the many giant screens surrounding this magnificent arena.
Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva did not have the legs to cope with Real’s energy and running in midfield, while Guardiola left Kevin de Bruyne on the bench after he failed to make an impact at Etihad Stadium.
Jude Bellingham cruised through the game, while Real keeper Thibaut Courtois was almost a spectator.
Abdukodir Khusanov had a tough night in an unfamiliar right-back role, with with Real making him a target for so many of their attacks. It was hard not to feel sympathy for the 20-year-old newcomer.
The manner of City’s defeat and elimination only confirmed what Guardiola surely already knows—that it is time to usher in a new era following years of success.