Real Madrid edge Manchester City in Champions League playoff

KATHMANDU: Real Madrid secured a dramatic 3-2 victory over Manchester City in the first leg of their Champions League playoff clash on Wednesday.

Despite trailing twice in the match, Madrid staged an impressive comeback at the Etihad Stadium.

Kylian Mbappé, Brahim Díaz, and Jude Bellingham each found the net for the Spanish giants, while Erling Haaland scored both goals for City.

Haaland put City ahead in the 19th minute, but Mbappé equalized in the 60th.

The Norwegian striker restored City’s lead with a penalty in the 80th minute, only for Díaz to level the score again six minutes later.

Bellingham then sealed Madrid’s victory with a stoppage-time winner.

The second leg is set for Feb 20.

Both Madrid and City failed to secure a top-eight finish in the new Champions League league-phase format, finishing 11th and 22nd, respectively.

As a result, they were forced into a two-leg playoff to reach the Round of 16. The winner of this tie will face either Atlético Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen in the next stage.

Meanwhile, City’s struggles extend to the Premier League, where they sit fifth in the standings, trailing leaders Liverpool by 15 points.