{"id":1374888,"date":"2025-02-19T22:15:05","date_gmt":"2025-02-19T22:15:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1374888"},"modified":"2025-02-19T22:15:29","modified_gmt":"2025-02-19T22:15:29","slug":"kylian-mbappe-real-madrid-knock-out-man-city-champions-league","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/kylian-mbappe-real-madrid-knock-out-man-city-champions-league\/","title":{"rendered":"“Incredible” knockout stage king Kylian Mbappe performs party trick to send sorry Man City packing in Champions League"},"content":{"rendered":"

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.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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<\/em> shirt.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

[dugoutvideo id=”eyJrZXkiOiIiLCJwIjoic3F1YXdrYSIsInBsIjoiVGtJdmU0eXoifQ==” partner=”squawka”]<\/p>\n

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. <\/p>\n

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. <\/p>\n

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. <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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. <\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\n

What a performance from Kylian Mbapp\u00e9. ?<\/p>\n

His game by numbers vs. Man City:<\/p>\n

9 touches in opp. box
7 shots
5 shots on target
3 goals
2 chances created
2\/2 take-ons completed <\/p>\n

The first player to score a UCL knockout round hat-trick vs. a side managed by Pep Guardiola. ? pic.twitter.com\/K5YZfg1VS3<\/a><\/p>\n

— Squawka (@Squawka) February 19, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n