“Incredible” knockout stage king Kylian Mbappe performs party trick to send sorry Man City packing in Champions League
Kylian Mbappe announced his arrival in this season’s Champions League with a hat-trick to help Real Madrid knock Manchester City out of the competition.
Mbappe has played in every game in the Champion League for Real Madrid this season, but the Frenchman hadn’t really got going. Not by his high standards and the expectations on him in a Los Blancos shirt.
He entered Wednesday second in the Champions League for shots (38) and shots on target (19) this season, behind only Erling Haaland in both. But he had only scored four goals, half of Haaland’s tally.
As it turns out, he was just waiting for the knockout phase play-offs. And specifically the visit of Man City to the Santiago Bernabeu.
The knockout stages of the Champions League is Mbappe’s playground. He knows this is his time to shine, and more often than not, he shows up.
Mbappe made sure Man City paid for giving up their lost lead in the first leg, putting Real Madrid 4-2 up in the tie after just four minutes at the Bernabeu. It was a lovely finish, looping the ball over Ederson after Man City’s defence had been bypassed by a pass from Raul Asencio.
It was the earliest goal Man City had conceded in the Champions League since October 2018, and Real Madrid’s earliest in the competition since April 2018. It should have been a warning sign for Man City, but Pep Guardiola’s side just weren’t at the races.
It didn’t help Man City that their own talisman Haaland had been left on the bench, unable to give the fans the goalscorer battle they will have wanted to see. So, with no rival on the pitch, Mbappe decided to take centre stage.
The Frenchman ended the night with a hat-trick in the 3-1 win, as Real Madrid took the tie 6-3 on aggregate. It took him over 500 goal involvements for club and country during his career, scoring 359 goals alongside 142 assists.
What a performance from Kylian Mbappé. 😍
His game by numbers vs. Man City:
9 touches in opp. box
7 shots
5 shots on target
3 goals
2 chances created
2/2 take-ons completedThe first player to score a UCL knockout round hat-trick vs. a side managed by Pep Guardiola. 🎩 pic.twitter.com/K5YZfg1VS3
— Squawka (@Squawka) February 19, 2025
Mbappe has now scored seven goals against Man City in the Champions League, with no player netting more against the Citizens in the competition. The Frenchman is now tied with Lionel Messi, having overtaken an ex-Real Madrid Frenchman in Karim Benzema.
Mbappe was the fourth player to score a Champions League hat-trick against Man City, and the second this season (joining Messi, Christopher Nkunku and Viktor Gyokeres). But he was the first player to score a Champions League knockout stage hat-trick against a team managed by Pep Guardiola.
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Mbappe has now scored 24 goals in the Champions League knockout stages since 2016-17, with no player netting more during that time. He has also scored two hat-tricks in the knockout stages, with only Cristiano Ronaldo (four) managing more.
The Frenchman ended the night with seven shots, five of which hit the target, and nine touches in the opposition box. He also leads the Champions League now for shots (45) and shots on target (24). And Mbappe is now up to joint-fifth in the race to win the Golden Boot. Most importantly, Mbappe has the chance to add to his tally, while one of the four players in front of him (Haaland) is now out.
“I think it’s brilliant,” Jude Bellingham told TNT Sports of playing with Mbappe after the game.
“I think you go into games knowing that he’s going to affect games. You can give him the ball, and I think our job behind is to try to put the front three, and myself getting in there, in the best positions as possible.
“And you know when Kylian gets the ball in areas where he likes to get the ball, he’s going to be dangerous. Right foot, left foot, you saw the different kinds of goals today.
“It’s incredible really, what he’s done in his career. And I know he had a slow start, and he’s kind of getting used to life here but now he’s just flying and it’s a pleasure to watch.”
