Bellingham’s Last-Minute Goal Lifts Madrid Over Man City \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Jude Bellingham’s stoppage-time goal secured a thrilling 3-2 win for Real Madrid against Manchester City in their Champions League playoff first leg. Despite two goals from Erling Haaland, Madrid mounted a late comeback with Brahim Diaz equalizing in the 86th minute before Bellingham struck the winner. Elsewhere, PSG dominated Brest 3-0, Juventus edged past PSV Eindhoven 2-1, and Borussia Dortmund secured a commanding 3-0 win over Sporting Lisbon.
Champions League Playoff Thrillers: Quick Looks
- Bellingham’s Late Heroics: Jude Bellingham’s stoppage-time goal secured a dramatic 3-2 win for Real Madrid against Manchester City.
- City’s Unbeaten Home Run Ends: Madrid’s victory snapped City’s 35-game unbeaten streak at home in the Champions League.
- Haaland’s Double Not Enough: Erling Haaland scored twice, including a penalty, but Madrid fought back late.
- PSG in Control: Ousmane Dembélé scored twice as Paris Saint-Germain dominated Brest 3-0.
- Juventus Snatches Late Winner: Samuel Mbangula’s first Champions League goal secured a 2-1 victory over PSV Eindhoven.
- Dortmund Cruises to Victory: Serhou Guirassy led Borussia Dortmund to a 3-0 win over Sporting Lisbon.
- Second-Leg Showdowns Await: Madrid carries a slim lead, PSG looks comfortable, Juventus holds a narrow edge, and Dortmund dominates.
Deep Look: Real Madrid Stuns Manchester City in Champions League Showdown
Real Madrid pulled off a sensational late comeback to claim a 3-2 victory over Manchester City in the first leg of their Champions League playoff, with Jude Bellingham scoring the decisive goal in stoppage time. The thrilling encounter at the Etihad Stadium saw City take the lead twice, but Madrid’s resilience ensured they head into the second leg at the Santiago Bernabéu with a one-goal advantage.
A Match of Twists and Turns
Manchester City, the defending champions, came into the match with a 35-game unbeaten home record in the Champions League. Erling Haaland put City ahead in the 19th minute, capitalizing on a period of dominance. Madrid, however, fought back with a freakish equalizer from Kylian Mbappe, whose mishit shot somehow looped past Ederson.
Haaland restored City’s lead in the 80th minute with a penalty after Phil Foden was brought down in the box. But Madrid responded again. Brahim Diaz, a former City academy player, leveled the score in the 86th minute, setting the stage for a dramatic finish.
With the game deep into stoppage time, Vinicius Junior lifted the ball over Ederson, and Bellingham rushed in to slide the winner home, silencing the stunned Etihad crowd.
The loss ended City’s impressive unbeaten home run in the Champions League, which dated back to 2018. However, with just a one-goal deficit, Pep Guardiola’s side will still believe they can turn things around in the second leg at the Bernabéu.
PSG Takes Control with Dominant Win Over Brest
Paris Saint-Germain put themselves in a commanding position for the next round with a 3-0 victory over Brest. Ousmane Dembélé continued his incredible form, extending his scoring streak to 10 consecutive games and reaching 18 goals during that run.
Vitinha opened the scoring from the penalty spot after Pierre Lees-Melou handled the ball inside the area. Dembélé then struck twice, first curling a brilliant shot into the net just before halftime and later pouncing on a loose ball to fire in his 23rd goal of the season.
With the return leg set to be played in Paris, PSG is now on the brink of qualification, needing only to avoid a major upset to book their place in the next round.
Juventus Edges PSV Eindhoven with Late Winner
A dramatic finish saw 21-year-old Belgian forward Samuel Mbangula score a late goal to hand Juventus a 2-1 win over PSV Eindhoven.
Weston McKennie had fired Juventus ahead late in the first half with a stunning strike into the top corner. PSV responded in the 56th minute with a composed finish from veteran midfielder Ivan Perisic, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.
But Juventus had the final say. In the 82nd minute, goalkeeper Walter Benitez spilled a low cross from Francisco Conceição, and Mbangula reacted first to smash home his first-ever Champions League goal, securing a vital away victory for Juventus.
Dortmund Cruises to Victory Over Sporting Lisbon
Borussia Dortmund took a commanding step toward qualification with a 3-0 triumph over Sporting Lisbon, as Serhou Guirassy led the charge.
Guirassy scored his 10th Champions League goal of the season and later assisted Pascal Gross, as Dortmund netted twice in the space of eight minutes to take full control of the match.
Sporting, struggling since the departure of former coach Ruben Amorim to Manchester United, looked outmatched as Karim Adeyemi rounded off a Dortmund counterattack in the 82nd minute to seal the victory.
This was Niko Kovac’s first Champions League game as Dortmund’s coach, and his side delivered a dominant performance, leaving Sporting without a win in their last five Champions League games.
Looking Ahead: Second Leg Expectations
- Real Madrid vs. Manchester City – With Madrid taking a slim one-goal advantage to the Bernabéu, City will need to overcome their away struggles to stay in the competition.
- PSG vs. Brest – With a 3-0 lead, PSG is in total control and will look to finish the job at home.
- Juventus vs. PSV – Juventus will try to hold onto their narrow lead, while PSV seeks to reverse the tie in the second leg.
- Dortmund vs. Sporting Lisbon – Dortmund’s dominance puts them firmly in control, leaving Sporting needing a near-miracle comeback.
With several teams edging closer to qualification, the second-leg fixtures promise more high-stakes drama, as the battle for Champions League glory intensifies.
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