MANCHESTER, England — Real Madrid advanced to the quarterfinals of the Champions League after eliminating Manchester City for the third consecutive year.
A 2-1 victory at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday secured a 5-1 aggregate win for Real Madrid, who are poised to meet Bayern Munich — fresh off a 6-1 triumph over Atalanta in their last-16 matchup — in the next round.
In a bid to overcome a three-goal deficit from the first leg, City started the match positively, but it shifted midway through the first half when Bernardo Silva was shown a red card for handling Vinícius Júnior‘s shot on the line, following a lengthy VAR review.
Vinícius, who missed a penalty in the 3-0 victory at the Bernabeu last week, converted the spot-kick. Although Erling Haaland equalized for City just before halftime, they were unable to regain their footing with ten men.
Pep Guardiola’s squad had two goals disallowed for offside in the second half and finished with 22 shots, but Vinícius added another goal in stoppage time, sealing the win for Real Madrid both on the night and overall. — Rob Dawson
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A Fresh Champions League Disappointment for Guardiola
Manchester City brought Pep Guardiola on board a decade ago with the objective of becoming regular Champions League contenders under the leadership of the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach, but the decade has yielded more setbacks than achievements in Europe.
City’s lone Champions League triumph occurred in 2023 when they defeated Inter Milan in the final in Istanbul. They also reached the 2021 final only to fall to Chelsea in Porto.
That sums up Guardiola’s ten years with City in the Champions League, as for a second consecutive season, his team exits before the quarterfinals. Over the decade, City has reached the semifinals only three times, underscoring that Guardiola has not lived up to expectations at the highest level.
Some aspects of Guardiola’s record resemble Sir Alex Ferguson’s tenure at Manchester United. Ferguson’s United dominated the English game, securing 13 league titles over 20 years, yet only won two Champions League titles during that time, finishing as runners-up in two finals — notably to Guardiola’s Barcelona. Guardiola’s City has clinched six league titles in a decade, but just one Champions League, despite participating in the tournament every season under his management at the Etihad.
If he departs in the summer, as many anticipate, his Champions League record will tarnish his legacy. — Mark Ogden
Never Count Out Real Madrid
Ahead of the first leg in Madrid last week, many felt that Real Madrid would struggle to proceed. Head coach Alvaro Arbeloa faced numerous questions about their underdog status, and even the fans at the Bernabeu appeared somewhat skeptical. This match was not a sellout, lacking the usual enthusiasm associated with significant Champions League nights.
However, this serves as a reminder that one should never underestimate Real Madrid in this tournament. They possess an unmistakable aura on this platform.
Arsenal, Bayern Munich, and Barcelona are perceived as more likely contenders, but Real Madrid will be eager to seize their chances after eliminating one of the top teams in the Premier League.
Bernardo Silva of City remarked on Monday that typically, the best team prevails in a domestic league, but the Champions League presents a different narrative.
Despite finishing ninth in the league standings and needing to navigate a tense playoff against Benfica, Real Madrid now finds themselves in the quarterfinals, where anything is possible. With Real Madrid, unpredictability is the norm. — Dawson
Haaland Struggles Despite Scoring
The Norwegian striker appears to be lacking something, be it fitness or confidence. While he netted a goal here, his close-range finish from a cross by Jérémy Doku lacked conviction.
As City sought goals in the second half, Guardiola opted to substitute Haaland, bringing on Omar Marmoush more than 30 minutes before the end. Whether this was to rest him for the upcoming Carabao Cup final, the decision was questionable, especially with the team still in search of goals.
The goal against Real Madrid marked Haaland’s fifth of 2026 and just his third from open play. He did not register a shot in the first leg and had two missed opportunities during the 1-1 draw against West Ham on Saturday.
There is speculation that Haaland has struggled in the latter part of the season due to injuries to key wingers, Savinho and Doku. With both players back in action, Haaland may receive more opportunities as the season progresses, yet he still appears to be lacking his typical sharpness in front of goal. — Dawson
Alexander-Arnold’s World Cup Prospects in Doubt
Trent Alexander-Arnold has endured a challenging start to his time at Real Madrid following a summer transfer from Liverpool and experienced a tough evening at the Etihad.
At 27 years old, he faced Belgium international Doku, who clearly dominated their direct confrontation. Alexander-Arnold struggled to keep up, being outmuscled and outrun.
Due to injuries, he has only managed 20 appearances for the first team this season, excluding last summer’s FIFA Club World Cup, and looked out of form during this match.
His inconsistency at Real has raised questions about his inclusion in England’s World Cup squad. With Reece James suffering a hamstring injury, there is a possibility of Alexander-Arnold being recalled to Thomas Tuchel’s squad for the upcoming friendlies against Uruguay and Japan. However, given his current form, he may struggle to earn a place in that selection.
His aspirations for the World Cup now hang in the balance. — Ogden
Khusanov’s Standout Performance for City
Abdukodir Khusanov was a bright spot for City against Real, providing Vinícius with one of his toughest challenges of the season.
Initially, the 22-year-old appeared out of place when he joined from Lens in January 2025, but he has significantly improved since a rough debut against Chelsea. He has enhanced his physicality, becoming one of City’s most dependable defenders.
The Uzbekistan international showcased impressive speed and strength against Real, making a pivotal play to dispossess Brahim Díaz after initially appearing to be beaten.
Khusanov has fought diligently to earn his place, and on a tough night for City, he represented a positive highlight. — Ogden