Jude Bellingham scored an injury-time winner to offer Actual Madrid a vital 3-2 mixture lead in opposition to Manchester Metropolis of their Champions League playoff.
Pep Guardiola named 5 pure centre-backs in his beginning XI, with John Stones in a defensive-midfield function and Manuel Akanji right-back.
Rodri’s Ballon d’Or rival Vinicius Junior began for Actual Madrid, as did England worldwide Bellingham and ex-Arsenal midfielder Dani Ceballos.
It was a frantic begin on the Etihad, with Actual Madrid seeming to interrupt by means of the Man City defence comfy.
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Vinicius thought he had received himself a penalty when taken down by goalkeeper Ederson however he was marginally offside.
Erling Haaland gave the Premier League champions the lead within the nineteenth minute, ending off an impressive workforce transfer involving Josko Gvardiol and Jack Grealish.
There was a prolonged VAR test for offside in opposition to Haaland however the objective was finally confirmed.
Grealish would solely final till the thirtieth minute although, coming off for Phil Foden after struggling an damage.
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Madrid continued to push for an equaliser however couldn’t achieve this earlier than half time, with Guardiola’s males beginning the second interval stronger with a deflected Haaland shot in opposition to the bar straight after the restart.
After an hour, the European champions had been degree.
Kylian Mbappe was the goalscorer, fully mishitting a volley however catching out Ederson within the course of to make it 1-1.
Metropolis went again in entrance when Haaland scored a penalty after Ceballos fouled Phil Foden simply contained in the field.
Once more, Madrid had been degree, this time by means of former Metropolis teen Brahim Diaz, who pounced onto a rebounded shot to volley previous Ederson.
The La Liga giants nicked it on the finish when Ederson tried to shut down Vinicius and was lobbed, leaving Bellingham there to show the ball in from shut vary.
The second leg on the Bernabeu shall be performed subsequent Wednesday, with a spot within the Champions League final 16 at stake.
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