Manchester, England — real Madrid Reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League after being eliminated Manchester City For the third consecutive year.
A 2-1 Victory at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday ensured a 5-1 aggregate victory for Real Madrid, who are likely to face Bayern Munich — 6-1 on winners atlanta In the first leg of their last-16 final – the last eight.
City, needing to overcome a three-goal deficit to Madrid, started well but turned the tables midway through the first half. Bernardo Silva dispatched to handle Vinicius JuniorShot on the line – awarded after a lengthy VAR check.
Vinicius, who missed a penalty in the 3-0 win at the Bernabeu last week, scored from the spot. And despite an equalizer erling holland Just before halftime, City could not find a way back into the contest with 10 men.
Pep Guardiola’s side had two goals ruled out for offside in the second half and the night ended with 22 shots on goal, but Vinicius scored again in stoppage time to give Real Madrid victory on the night and on aggregate. –Rob Dawson
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Another Champions League failure for Guardiola
Manchester City hired Pep Guardiola a decade ago with the clear ambition of becoming back-to-back Champions League winners under his leadership barcelona and Bayern Munich coach, but the decade brought more European disappointments than successes.
City’s only success in the Champions League came in 2023, when they defeated Inter Milan in the final in Istanbul. They also reached the 2021 final before losing chelsea In Porto.
This sums up Guardiola’s 10 years in the Champions League with City, and for the second consecutive season, his team has exited the competition before the quarter-final stage. Indeed, during those 10 years, City have reached the last four on only three occasions. There is no doubt that Guardiola has underachieved at this highest level.
In some ways, Guardiola’s record parallels that of Sir Alex Ferguson Manchester United. Ferguson’s United dominated the English game by winning 13 league titles in 20 years, but they only won two Champions Leagues in that time and lost two finals – coincidentally, to Guardiola’s Barcelona. Despite playing in the competition in every season under Guardiola at the Etihad, Guardiola’s City have won six league titles in ten years, but only one Champions League.
If he leaves his post in the summer, as many now expect him to, his Champions League record will be a stain on his legacy. –Mark Ogden
never ignore real madrid
Before the first leg in Madrid last week, it looked as if Real Madrid would be lucky to get through. Questions of being the underdogs dominated head coach Alvaro Arbeloa’s press conference and even Bernabeu fans seemed relatively pessimistic. The game was not a sell-out, and there was no great fanfare before kick-off as is often the case before important Champions League nights.
But it’s a lesson that you should never ignore Real Madrid in this competition. There is something or the other about him on this platform.
armoryBayern Munich and Barcelona are considered more likely suitors. However, Real Madrid will look to take their chances after defeating one of the best teams Premier League.
City’s Bernardo Silva said on Monday that the best team usually wins in the domestic league, but the Champions League is different.
Real Madrid finished ninth in the league table and had to go through a tense, tough playoff. benfica. Yet they still find themselves in the quarter-finals and anything can happen from here. With Real Madrid, you never know. –Dawson
Despite the goal, Holland is still out of rhythm
The Norwegian seems to lack something – be it fitness or confidence. He scored here, but even he was tasked with close-range finishes jeremy dokuDuring the cross, he found the net in a manner that was not particularly convincing.
City were desperate for a goal in the second half, so Guardiola decided to replace Haaland. Omar Marmoush There are still over 30 minutes left to play. Whether this was done to preserve it for Sunday or not Carabao Cup In the final, it still doesn’t look good when the star striker comes on despite the team needing to score.
It was only Haaland’s fifth goal of 2026 and his third from open play against Real Madrid. He did not attempt a single shot in the first leg in Madrid and missed two good chances in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with West Ham.
One theory has been that Haaland has struggled in the second half of the season due to injuries to City’s two best wingers: Savinho And Doku. Having both back in the team should help Haaland get the chances he needs in the run-in, but he still looks like he is missing his usual clinical instincts in front of goal. –Dawson
Alexander-Arnold’s World Cup spot in danger
Trent Alexander-Arnold He had a tough first year at Real Madrid after a summer transfer liverpoolAnd he had a tough night at the Etihad too.
The 27-year-old faced off against Doku and City were the clear winners in the head-to-head battle. Alexander-Arnold was defeated and moved on belgium International, who was one of the rare bright spots in City on the night they were knocked out of the Champions League.
Alexander-Arnold has managed only 20 first-team appearances since the start of the season due to injuries – excluding last summer’s FIFA Club World Cup – and he looked rusty in this game.
Because his time at Real has been so disappointing, Alexander-Arnold’s place in England’s World Cup squad is in doubt. reece jamesThe hamstring injury means he could be recalled to Thomas Tuchel’s squad when he announces his group for upcoming friendlies on Friday. uruguay And Japan. But in this form he probably won’t be able to make a place in that team.
Their World Cup hopes are in danger. –Ogden
Rare bright spot for Khusanov city
Abdukodir Khusanov An excellent performance for City against Real gave Vinicius one of his toughest games of the season at the Etihad.
When the 22-year-old young man came back from there, it seemed as if he was completely out of his depth. lens In January 2025 and suffered a nightmare against Chelsea. But he has worked on his game and improved his physique enough to become arguably City’s best defender.
Uzbekistan The international displayed incredible pace and power against Real. In a moment, he covered three yards brahim diaz The city’s former youth evicts him after Vinicius frees him.
Khusanov has had to fight for his place, but he is showing real consistency. On a bad night for City, he was a real positive. –Ogden
