Actual Madrid’s English midfielder #05 Jude Bellingham celebrates scoring his crew’s first aim in the course of the Spanish league soccer match between Athletic Membership Bilbao and Actual Madrid CF on the San Mames stadium in Bilbao on December 4, 2024. (Photograph by ANDER GILLENEA / AFP)
PARIS, France (AFP) – Jude Bellingham snatched a stoppage-time winner as Actual Madrid twice got here from behind to beat Manchester Metropolis 3-2 within the first leg of their blockbuster Champions League play-off tie Tuesday.
Erling Haaland’s double — his first targets in 5 appearances in opposition to Madrid — regarded to have secured Pep Guardiola’s aspect a slender benefit, however as a substitute the reigning European champions now go into subsequent week’s return leg in Spain as robust favourites to succeed in the final 16.
“It was a bizarre one. We performed a few of our greatest soccer of the season and ended up behind,” Bellingham informed Amazon Prime.
“I don’t care what kind Metropolis are in they’re nonetheless an unbelievable crew. It’s all the time tough to play in opposition to them and we lastly took the prospect on the finish.”
It’s the fourth consecutive season Metropolis and Madrid have met within the knockout part of the competitors, with the winner in every of the previous three encounters occurring to raise the Champions League trophy.
Metropolis overcame a gradual begin on the Etihad and took the lead within the nineteenth minute as Haaland steered previous Thibaut Courtois after Josko Gvardiol chested down a go from Jack Grealish.
Vinicius Junior hit the crossbar for Madrid earlier than Metropolis defender Manuel Akanji did likewise with a header, whereas Haaland was denied a second aim proper after half-time when his deflected shot got here again off the woodwork.
Madrid equalised on the hour after the Metropolis wall blocked a free-kick, with Dani Ceballos clipping the ball again into the realm the place Mbappe’s mishit volley looped into the online after coming off his shin and leaving Ederson stranded.
Metropolis regained the lead 10 minutes from time as Haaland caught away a penalty after Phil Foden was clattered by Ceballos.
However former Metropolis participant Brahim Diaz levelled for Madrid within the 86th minute after a dreadful kick by Ederson, and Bellingham punished the hosts for extra suspect defending because the England midfielder struck the successful aim on the loss of life.
“I don’t know the way to put it into phrases right away, it’s so uncooked and irritating for everybody,” mentioned Metropolis defender John Stones.
“It’s a sense of anger and frustration,” he added. “We have to see video games out higher. We have to step up when these dangerous moments occur.”
