Champions League holders Real Madrid looking ominous
Real Madrid 3 - 1 Manchester City (Real Madrid won 6-3 on aggregate)
This is Real Madrid’s competition. This is their time of year.
Stadium - Estadio Santiago Bernabéu
The murmurs of admiration that rippled around the stadium as Carlo Ancelotti’s side took control carried a familiar sense of inevitability—one that should serve as a warning to any team hoping to deny them a record-extending 16th European crown.
When Real slumped to a 2-0 defeat at Liverpool in November, they looked sluggish and short of ideas—Vinícius Júnior was absent, and Kylian Mbappé was still settling in after his high-profile move to Madrid.
Now, Mbappé looks every bit the world-class star they signed him to be. His first goal, a delicate lob over Ederson, oozed composure. His second was pure brilliance, leaving Joško Gvardiol bewildered with a dazzling piece of footwork.
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The hat-trick goal was the finishing touch on a masterful display, and the standing ovation he received when substituted 13 minutes from time was nothing less than he deserved.
Alongside Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo, Mbappé forms an attacking trio capable of unsettling any defence. Against Manchester City, they were simply too much to handle—especially after John Stones limped off just seven minutes in.
And overseeing it all from the touchline was Ancelotti, the man who has conquered this competition more times than any other manager. A five-time winner, he knows exactly what it takes to go the distance.
Real Madrid—the Champions League’s most ruthless and successful force—look ready to do it all over again.
The best reaction
This is how our friends at Manchester Super News responded.
Manchester City's Champions League hopes fizzled out at the Bernabéu as Kylian Mbappé’s stunning hat-trick propelled holders Real Madrid into the last 16 with ease. Read Manchester Super News story here - manchestersupernews.blogspot.com/2025/02/foot...
— Super News Affiliate (@sup3rnew5affiliate.bsky.social) 20 February 2025 at 16:27
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Real Madrid's hat-trick hero came in for a lot of praise aswell. Not long ago, the captain of France faced significant criticism from Real Madrid fans and pundits after scoring only three goals in 11 appearances for Carlo Ancelotti's team. This scrutiny followed the 26-year-old's contentious departure from Paris Saint-Germain, which led to his free transfer to the Spanish giants last June when his contract expired.
However, he has since scored 27 goals in all competitions this season after what was initially a 'slow start' to his time in Madrid. It's safe to say that he is no longer just adapting; he is thriving. This was a view supported by European Super Football contributor Peter Grainger.
Peter told us: "That performance from Mbappe was glorious. He is a generational talent and football fans from across the world will be excited to see how his career develops."
