Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: Jude Bellingham’s late goal completed a stunning comeback from Real Madrid, who twice came from behind to clinch a narrow 3-2 first-leg advantage against Manchester City in the Champions League playoffs on February 11.
Erling Haaland’s double – the second from the penalty spot with just over ten minutes remaining – either side of Kylian Mbappe’s looping strike, appeared to have given City the edge. However, visiting sub Brahim Díaz was quickest to the rebound following an Ederson save to level against his former side, before Bellingham tapped in from close range after good work by Vinicius Jjnior to seal the win in a pulsating contest, Champions League reports.
The loss leave City needing to win by at least a goal in the second leg to at least level the aggregate scores and have any chance of progressing after a heart-breaking final seven minutes.
“Today was tight and in certain times we had chances. Many games at the end we give away. In that level it is so difficult. It is not the first time, it happens many times.
“There are mistakes in similar areas. It is difficult to manage. Players take decisions in the moment, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. We arrived in the last minute with the result but we could not keep it.
“There are many, many good things that we played. The result is what it is. Of course we did many good things, things can improve and always give credit for the opponent and the quality they have,” said City boss Pep Guardiola.
Elsewhere, Serhou Guirassy’s tenth goal of the campaign helped Borussia Dortmund secure a commanding 3-0 win in Lisbon. After Maximiliano Araujo hit the crossbar from distance before half-time for Sporting, Guirassy headed in Julian Brandt’s cross to open the scoring after 60 minutes.
Pascal Gross met Guirassy’s delivery with a knee to register his first goal for Dortmund eight minutes later, and Karim Adeyemi completed a slick one-two with Brandt to slot in the third from a counterattack with eight minutes remaining.
