Champions League: Real in 'final before the final' after comeback to full spoils at the Etihad

(Patria) - Real Madrid defeated Manchester City tonight at the Etihad after a comeback with a score of 3:2 in the first match of the Champions League play-off, writes Faktor.ba.

🏁 @ManCityES 2-3 @RealMadrid
⚽ 19' Haaland
⚽ 60' @KMbappe
⚽ 80' Haaland (p)
⚽ 86' @Brahim
⚽ 90'+2' @BellinghamJude pic.twitter.com/vFCsYk2Nsm

— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) February 11, 2025

Given the power and quality of the two clubs, this is undoubtedly a "final before the final", but the Citizens and the Kings have not adapted well to the new format of the elite competition, and one of them will not make it to the top 16.

At the moments when Real was more dangerous, City took the lead. Haaland scored in the 19th minute. After a longer check for a possible offside position, it was determined that the goal was legitimate.

In the 26th minute, Vinicius threatened, but the crossbar saved City. The crossbar was also Real's ally after Akanji's header attempt in the 37th minute.

Valverde tried to change the score at the Etihad in the 43rd minute, but the hosts took a minimal lead into halftime.

Haaland hit the crossbar in the first minute of the second half, and Real had two chances through Bellingham and Mbappe.

In the 60th minute, Real equalized with a lucky goal from Mbappe. The Frenchman received a through ball into the penalty area, attempted a volley while falling, the ball hit his shin and ended up in the net.

City regained the lead in the 80th minute with a penalty goal from Haaland. Veballos had previously fouled Foden on the edge of the penalty area.

Real came back again in the 86th minute with a goal from substitute Diaz, a former City player. Bellingham scored the winning goal for the Kings in stoppage time.

Juventus defeated PSV in Turin with a score of 2:1. McKennie gave the Old Lady the lead in the 34th minute, and in the 56th minute, Perišić brought things back to square one.

Mbangula secured the Italian team's triumph with a goal in the 82nd minute. Bosnia and Herzegovina international Esmir Bajraktarević did not enter the game.

FT | ⌛️ | We emerge victorious at the Allianz Stadium! 🤍🖤#JuvePSV #UCL pic.twitter.com/8PvUcbOuXC

— JuventusFC 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@juventusfcen) February 11, 2025

Borussia Dortmund took a big step towards the round of 16 by winning in Lisbon against Sporting with a score of 3:0.

Guirassy, Gross, and Adeyemi scored for the German team's triumph.

A HUGE result! 👏 pic.twitter.com/mJ8W8PC1yK

— Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow) February 11, 2025

In an earlier match, PSG players thrashed their compatriots from Brest away from home with a score of 3:0. The scorers for the team from the French capital were Vitinha (21' penalty) and Dembele (45', 66').

✅ FT: Brest 0-3 Paris Saint-Germain!

⚽️ A goal from @vitinha and a double from @dembouz puts us in command of this @ChampionsLeague play-off!

🔴 ALLEZ PARIS 🔵#SB29PSG pic.twitter.com/rLJybAm6Yp

— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) February 11, 2025