Mbappé shines as Real Madrid crush Man City in the Champions League

This season’s UEFA Champions League has already witnessed the elimination of one of its top favorites. In the round of 32, Real Madrid delivered another unforgettable night for their fans, overwhelming Manchester City which has struggled to impress in this edition of Europe’s premier club tournament.

The reigning Champions League holders eliminated the English team in the second leg of the round of 32 with a 3-1 victory at the Santiago Bernabéu, securing a 6-3 aggregate win. Real Madrid had already triumphed 3-2 at the Etihad Stadium in the first leg.

Even before kickoff, signs pointed to Real Madrid as the team destined to reach the round of 16. In a surprising move, Man City manager Pep Guardiola left his star striker, Erling Haaland, out of the starting lineup. Instead, he opted for recently signed players who have barely had time to adapt, such as Egypt’s Omar Marmoush and Spain’s Nico González.

Mbappé dazzles

Overall, Real Madrid delivered a stellar performance, with no player falling short in securing their place in the next round. However, if one player deserves special recognition, it is Kylian Mbappé.

In his debut season with Real Madrid, the French forward played a decisive role, scoring all three goals that kept the Spanish side in the competition. He struck twice in the first half, finding the net in the 4th and 33rd minutes, before sealing his hat-trick with a final goal in the 61st minute.

Alongside Mbappé, Rodrygo Goes, Fede Valverde, and Jude Bellingham delivered standout performances. Meanwhile, Vinicius Junior had a quieter night compared to his usual impact.

In the next round, Real Madrid will face either Bayer Leverkusen—managed by Spaniard Xabi Alonso, a former Merengue player—or one of their historic rivals, Atlético Madrid. The draw for the round of 16 will take place this Friday.

PSG crushes Brest; Juventus bow out

Following the shocking eliminations of Milan and Atalanta, Juventus deepened the crisis of Italian soccer in the Champions League by falling to PSV. In a second leg that extended into extra time, the Dutch side scored the decisive goal to secure their place in the next round.

The Vecchia Signora arrived in the Netherlands with a favorable 2-1 lead from the first leg. However, in a thrilling second half of the return match, PSV matched that score, sending the game into extra time. There, they scored a third and decisive goal (3-1), allowing them to advance in the competition and secure a spot in this Friday's tie.

Paris Saint-Germain had a remarkable performance, overpowering their neighbors, Brest, with a decisive 7-0 victory in the second leg, resulting in a 10-0 aggregate score. The French team, coached by Spaniard Luis Enrique Martínez, showcased their depth as seven different players scored the goals.

n Germany, Borussia Dortmund had no difficulty against Sporting Lisbon, finishing the match in a 0-0 draw. They advanced in the Champions League by capitalizing on their 3-0 victory in the first leg in Portugal.