UCL: Real Madrid Stun Manchester City with Late Bellingham Winner

Jude Bellingham scores late winner as Real Madrid come from behind to beat Manchester City 3-2 in Champions League.

Jude Bellingham's dramatic 92nd-minute goal sealed an epic comeback for Real Madrid as they defeated Manchester City 3-2 in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League knockout round play-off. This thrilling victory marked Real Madrid's first win at the Etihad Stadium within 90 minutes.

The electric atmosphere at the Etihad Stadium was palpable, with Manchester City fans fueling the intensity of the matchup by taunting Vinicius Junior and Real Madrid with a pre-game message. However, Vinicius Junior and his teammates remained focused, and their determination paid off in the end.

In the early stages of the match, Vinicius Junior was denied a penalty due to an offside flag, leaving him visibly stunned. The Brazilian winger quickly regained his composure and delivered an exceptional pass to Kylian Mbappe, whose shot was expertly saved. Shortly after, Nathan Ake thwarted Ferland Mendy's scoring attempt, following a clever touch from Vinicius Junior.

This game never disappoints 🍿#UCL pic.twitter.com/I1YOdeA3lB

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) February 11, 2025

Manchester City capitalized on their strong defensive display by taking the lead through Erling Haaland's clinical finish. The Norwegian striker's first-ever goal against Real Madrid was made possible by Josko Gvardiol's unintentional assist, which set Haaland up for a straightforward scoring opportunity.

Vinicius Junior responded to Manchester City's goal by unleashing a deflected shot that crashed against the crossbar, narrowly missing the target. However, the setback was compounded by an injury to Jack Grealish, who was forced off the field after a promising start to the match.

The pace of the game remained relentless, with Phil Foden, Grealish's replacement, testing Thibaut Courtois with a shot on goal. Manuel Akanji's header also struck the crossbar, while Federico Valverde came agonizingly close to scoring at the other end. Kylian Mbappe's shot sailed over the bar, ensuring the first half ended without further goals.

The second half began with Akanji making way due to physical struggles, but the intensity of the match refused to subside. Eduardo Camavinga deflected Erling Haaland's shot onto the crossbar, before Vinicius Junior delivered a cross that Jude Bellingham headed wide. Ederson then palmed away Mbappe's instinctive attempt, and a superb tackle by Josko Gvardiol halted the French forward's progress.

Mbappe eventually found the equalizer on the hour mark, despite not making clean contact with Dani Ceballos' dinked pass. The goal wrongfooted Ederson and set the stage for a thrilling conclusion. However, Ceballos' challenge on Phil Foden conceded a penalty, which Haaland converted by sending Courtois the wrong way.

The lead was short-lived, as Ederson's save from Vinicius' shot presented Brahim Diaz with an opportunity to score against his former club just two minutes after coming on. Diaz capitalized on the chance, restoring parity to the match and ensuring a captivating finish.

POTM in Manchester 👏#UCL pic.twitter.com/7l1ocH277F

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) February 11, 2025

Vinicius Junior seized upon Manchester City's momentary indecision, launching a swift counterattack and poking the ball towards goal. Jude Bellingham capitalized on the opportunity, turning the ball home to secure Real Madrid's fourth consecutive Champions League victory and a crucial advantage ahead of the return leg at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu. In stark contrast, Manchester City's European woes continued, with the team having won only one of their last six continental matches.