Bellingham’s Last-Minute Magic Stuns City in Champions League Thriller

TDT | Manama

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In a match befitting its heavyweight billing, Jude Bellingham delivered a 92nd-minute dagger to silence the Etihad and hand Real Madrid a thrilling 3-2 comeback victory over Manchester City in the first leg of their Champions League playoff tie on Tuesday night.

City, fueled by Erling Haaland’s deadly double, looked primed to take a slender lead into the return leg, but Madrid’s never-say-die mentality saw Brahim Diaz and Bellingham flip the script late on, setting the stage for a blockbuster second leg at the Bernabéu on February 19.

Haaland Strikes, but Madrid Stay in the Fight

The night began with Haaland finally breaking his Real Madrid curse, lashing home his first-ever goal against the Spanish giants in the 19th minute. Josko Gvardiol cushioned a ball into the Norwegian’s path, and he rifled a volley past Thibaut Courtois, though a tense four-minute VAR check for offside kept fans on edge before the goal was confirmed.

City looked comfortable, controlling possession and dictating the tempo, but Madrid, as they so often do on European nights, found a way back. Kylian Mbappé pounced in the 60th minute, bundling home a scrappy equalizer after a free-kick rebound pinballed off his shin and beyond Ederson. It wasn’t the cleanest strike, but it was enough to level the contest.

A City Collapse and a Madrid Masterclass

With City regaining the lead in the 80th minute—Haaland coolly converting from the spot after Dani Ceballos clipped Phil Foden in the box—it looked like Pep Guardiola’s men had regained control. But Real Madrid’s late-game pedigree is legendary, and once again, the Spanish giants found a way.

City’s defensive frailties reared their head in the 86th minute, when a miscued clearance from Ederson landed at the feet of Brahim Diaz, who made no mistake in tapping home the equalizer. Etihad nerves turned to heartbreak six minutes later, as a misplaced Mateo Kovačić back-pass gifted Vinícius Jr. an opening. The Brazilian delicately chipped a ball across goal, where Bellingham beat John Stones to the punch and slotted home the winner—cue bedlam in the Madrid camp.

A Familiar Rivalry and a High-Stakes Second Leg

“We played some of our best football of the season and still ended up behind,” Bellingham admitted post-match. “But against City, you have to believe something will drop for you. It finally did.”

This marks the fourth straight year Madrid and City have clashed in the Champions League knockout rounds, though never this early in the competition. Guardiola likened it to a ‘derby’, while Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti called it a ‘modern classic.’

“We had the game in our hands,” lamented City defender John Stones. “We let it slip in the end, but it’s not over.”

Ancelotti, meanwhile, was measured in his post-game assessment. “It’s only halftime in this tie. Anything can happen at the Bernabéu.”

One thing’s for sure—after this instant classic, the second leg in Madrid is set to be an all-out war.