A failure of goalkeeper Ederson and a city defense error within six minutes already in the final stretch of the confrontation between Manchester City and Real Madrid on Tuesday (11) allowed the Spanish team to seek a heroic turned in the confrontation of the trip by Champions League playoffs, with a 3-2 win.
At Etihad Stadium, the home owners were ahead of the score twice, both after goals scored by Erling Haaland, one in every time, but Real managed to get the turn with goals from Mbappé, Brahim Díaz and Bellingham, all already in Second time.
The match was also marked by some provocations to Brazilian Vinicius Junior for the rivalry between him and Spanish Rodrigo, who polarized the latest individual awards in world football.
Before the ball rolls on Etihad Stadium, City published in its official X account, the former Twitter, photos of the arrival of Real Madrid, including one by Vinicius Junior passing by a image of Rodrigo with the Golden Ball in hand .
As soon as Real Madrid appeared on the lawn to warm up, the English team fans showed a flag with the image of Rodrigo kissing the golden ball, accompanied by the phrase: “Stop Crying Your Hear Out” His heart, in Portuguese), which is also a title of a song by the band Oasis, led by brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher, city fans.
Rodrigue, absent from Tuesday’s confrontation and without playing since September 2024, when he suffered a right knee injury, surpassed Vinicius Junior in the last Golden Ball dispute for a difference of 41 points —1.170 to 1,129. Disagreeing with the result, Real Madrid boycotted the party of France Football magazine.
The Brazilian gave the change in Spanish in the award promoted by FIFA (International Football Federation), which elected the striker as the best in the world. In the criterion adopted by the entity, he received 48 points, while the midfielder was in second position with 41.
Despite the provocations, Vinicius Junior was not intimidated at the Spanish player’s house. Although he did not swing the net, it was decisive for victory. In addition to hitting a ball in the crossbar in the first half, he forced Ederson’s mistake in the final stage, when Brahim Díaz took advantage of the goalkeeper’s rebound to draw the duel, and also almost covered the city’s shirt 31 – at the left, Bellingham became the marker.
Present in the stadium’s stands, Rodrigo could just face a few friends after seeing Real Madrid’s shirt 7 celebrates on the field.
