Bellingham’s Late Heroics Sink Man City

Real Madrid defeated Manchester City 3-2 in a usually exciting Champions League encounter, Jude Bellingham delivering a 92nd-minute winner.

With four minutes of normal time left, Brahim Diaz equalised against his former team, so Erling Haaland broke his duck against Real Madrid with a brace but it was insufficient for even a draw. Bellingham then slid in to turn the ball into an empty net and leave City stunned at the Etihad Stadium.

Though he opened the score in this Champions League play-off tie after Josko Gvardiol chested the ball into his path, the Norwegian had missed the net in four previous visits against Real.

That lead stayed until the hour mark, when Kylian Mbappe’s scuffed volleyball trickled into the far corner, a justifiable equaliser for Real following a run of good opportunities missed. Haaland regained the advantage from the penalty spot, and City was within touching distance of leading into the second leg at the Bernabeu, but Diaz and Bellingham had other ideas.