Real Madrid secured a dramatic 3-2 victory over Manchester City in the first leg of their Champions League knockout play-off on Wednesday, with goals from Kylian Mbappe, Brahim Diaz, and Jude Bellingham. Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid's manager, revealed that his team specifically targeted City goalkeeper Ederson during the match.
Despite City being 2-1 ahead heading into the final minutes thanks to a brace from Erling Haaland, Madrid mounted a late comeback. The turning point came when a poor pass from Ederson led to Diaz’s equalizer. Ederson's decision to rush out to meet Vinicius Jr. also backfired, as he was lobbed by the Brazilian winger, allowing Bellingham to score the winner in stoppage time.
Ancelotti explained that his team had prepared to press Ederson high whenever he had the ball, aiming to disrupt City’s build-up play. “We looked to press high when Ederson had the ball, and to drop to a mid-block when he didn’t,” Ancelotti explained. He also added that Madrid’s midfielders were instructed to focus on quality ball movement rather than resorting to long passes. His tactical approach ultimately paid off as Madrid capitalized on City’s mistakes and clinched a valuable advantage for the second leg.
City’s manager, Pep Guardiola, defended Ederson in the aftermath of the match. When asked about Ederson’s role in Diaz’s goal, Guardiola acknowledged that the goalkeeper’s decision to play a long ball didn’t go as planned, but he stressed that such decisions are part of the game. “Players take decisions in the moment—sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t,” Guardiola said. He also pointed out that similar situations have occurred in the past and emphasized that his team would learn from this loss. Guardiola reflected on how City had been unable to control the match in key moments, despite having chances to seal a more comfortable victory.
The second leg of the tie will take place at the Santiago Bernabeu next Wednesday, with Manchester City now needing to overcome a one-goal deficit to keep their hopes of lifting the Champions League alive. Despite the setback, City will be determined to bounce back and challenge Real Madrid for a spot in the next round.
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