An outstanding Kylian Mbappe led Real Madrid to the round of three of the Champions League with a triple pack and decided the duel between the giants with Pep Guardiolas Manchester City alone.
The French striker shot the defending champion for a 3-1 (2: 0) in the play-off second leg-and those responsible for Bayer Leverkusen should have looked closely. Real is a possible round of 16 of the German champion, alternatively a Madrid duel could be due with Atletico.
The duels will be drawn on Friday (12 p.m.) in the UEFA headquarters in Nyon. In addition to Real, Paris Saint-Germain is also represented there. The French champion also decided the second comparison of the duel with Stade Brest for himself, the 3-0 in the first leg Paris followed a 7: 0 (2: 0). It was the highest victory in the premier class for PSG.
The focus was on the top game in Madrid, in which international Antonio Rüdiger was back in Real’s starting eleven after surviving injury. Mancity had to catch up with the 2: 3 from the first leg, Guardiola had put the chance to get on after the first leg defeat to “one percent”.
Champions League: Mancity without Erling Haaland
Guardiola nevertheless initially forego Haaland, who was sitting on the bench slightly.
In the absence of the Norwegian, Mbappe trumped up. The Frenchman was successful by lever (4th), at the end of a great combination (33.) and after a solo (61.). Mancity struggled, but never got going. There was little to see by Omar Marmoush, hired by Eintracht Frankfurt in winter. Nico Gonzalez shortened for City (90.+2).
Real still had to survive a moment of terror: after a collision with Manchester’s goalkeeper Ederson, Mbappe stayed with a pain that was distorted in pain – seconds later he added 3-0. When he was replaced in the 78th minute, Mbappe was allowed to read from the fans. At Real, the long injured David Alaba was substituted shortly before the end.