Kylian Mbappe Shows Manchester City Exit Door As Real Madrid Take Playoff To Reach CL Last 16

 

Manchester City had a difficult day against Real Madrid and it was Kylian Mbappe's handiwork that showed the one-time champions Champions  League the exit door of the Champions League on Wednesday night. 

Already, Real had the upper hand from the playoff first-leg they won (3-2) at Etihad. Making the situation worse, Erling Haaland and Kevin de Bruyne could not make the game over injuries they picked up ahead of the match. Real literally had a field day and Mbappe took liberty - he scored a hat-trick as perplexed City played on. 

City eventually scored a goal from Nico Gonzalez's tap-in following a free-kick on stoppage time. However, the Frenchman had rattled the opposition's with goals, sensational enough City's defenders were helpless and hopeless. Mind you, Real Madrid left no stones on turned as all their key players on the pitch. In such a game, City could only resort to fate. Apprently, that was not helpful as Real led from the halftime by two-goal margin. 

Mbappe scored his first half-volleying home Asencio's cross. He followed up with the second in a build-up that involved Bellingham and Vinicius before Rodrygo played him in. He gladly dribbled a defender challenging him and rifled the ball into the net. The third was on the hour from an individual effort, which he completed guiding a left-footed shot home from the edge of the box. 

It was not that the Citizens were formidable enough, rather the presence of players like Manuel Akanji would have made the defense line a like stronger. More so, having Kevin in the midfield would have kept the Spaniards on their toes - with Bernando Silva the midfield would have been better off. 

At this point, City would meet to score six goals to win the playoff on aggregate scores. Of course, that is an uphill task that Pep Guardiola can not work out against a trophy-hingry side like Real Madrid. 

For the first time in his career, Guardiola will not be leading his team past the group stages of the Champions League. It was the Spaniard manager's earlier defeat in the UEFA Champions League. Real secured their place in the round of 16 maintaining unbeaten run in previous nine games in the competition.