Manchester City – Real Madrid: Madrid’s notes

Real Madrid and Manchester City clashed in an exciting encounter during the first leg of the Champions League playoffs. The match, held at the Etihad Stadium, met expectations with its high-paced action and excellent technical quality. Manchester City initially went ahead in the first half with Erling Haaland, who took advantage of a defensive error to score. In the second half, however, Real Madrid slowly regained control, with Kylian Mbappé leveling the score. Yet, Haaland seemed to have sealed the win with a brace from the penalty spot in the 80th minute. In the dying moments, Carlo Ancelotti introduced Brahim Diaz, and the Moroccan played a pivotal role in helping Real equalize at 2-2 before Jude Bellingham scored the decisive goal to make it 2-3 before the second leg. Below are the player ratings and analysis of Real Madrid’s performances:

Thibaut Courtois: 7 Once again, Thibaut Courtois showed why he is among the world’s best goalkeepers. Although he allowed an unstoppable strike from Erling Haaland to find the back of the net, the Belgian made several crucial saves, especially in the first half, stopping multiple attempts from City’s forwards. His composure and footwork provided his defense with much-needed stability, keeping his team alive during tough moments.

Federico Valverde: 7.5 Filling in an unfamiliar role due to Lucas Vazquez’s absence, Federico Valverde displayed his adaptability and significance to Carlo Ancelotti. Positioned on the right side of defense, he balanced defensive solidity with offensive contributions. His defensive interventions were essential in halting Jack Grealish’s progress. Offensively, he offered passing options and created threatening crosses. A determined performance from the Uruguayan.

Raúl Asencio: 8 Despite his youth and lack of experience in such high-stakes games, Raúl Asencio stood out. He was strong in duels, quick in his interventions, and focused throughout, often overcoming City’s attackers. Despite facing the constant threat of Erling Haaland, he kept his cool and made smart interceptions. He emerged as a real leader in defense.

Aurélien Tchouameni: 6 The French midfielder, shifted to a center-back role, had a solid showing but could have done better on Haaland’s goal, where his positioning was questionable. Apart from that, he displayed good passing accuracy and a solid understanding of the game. However, his pace was occasionally outstripped by City’s attacking play. A mixed performance overall.

Ferland Mendy: 5.5 Back in the starting lineup, Ferland Mendy faced a tough night. He struggled to keep up with Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva, leaving his flank exposed. He almost worsened the situation with a risky loss of possession in the first half. Going forward, he made some attempts at attacking runs but they lacked effectiveness. A performance below his usual standards.

Eduardo Camavinga: 8 Eduardo Camavinga’s return from injury was a major boost for Real Madrid. Positioned centrally, he controlled the tempo and won back a remarkable number of balls. His vision and composure under pressure were invaluable for his team. He was omnipresent in duels and played a critical role in offensive transitions. An outstanding performance from the young Frenchman.