• Source:JND
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Manchester City vs Real Madrid, UEFA Champions League: Real Madrid scripted yet another thrilling comeback as they got the better of Manchester City in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League play-off tie at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday.

Real Madrid came from behind twice in the high-profile contest before Jude Bellingham sealed a 3-2 victory for them with a stoppage-time goal.

Kylian Mbappe and Brahim Diaz were the other two goal-scorers for Los Blancos who headed into the match on the back of a 1-1 draw in the all-important match against city rivals Atletico Madrid in La Liga.

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Madrid cancelled out a double from City's Erling Haaland, setting up what should be a thrilling second leg on February 19 in Madrid between two of Europe's most famous teams and biggest rivals.

Notably, Haaland opened the scoring with his first career goal against Real in the 19th minute when Josko Gvardiol chested the ball down to the 24-year-old Norwegian, who volleyed into the far corner. The goal was given after fans held their breath through a four-minute VAR check for offside.

The visitors looked in immense control early in the second half before Mbappe levelled in the 60th minute with a rebound off a free kick, awkwardly looping the ball off his shin over goalkeeper Ederson and into the net.

Haaland made it two for him on the night as he struck from the penalty spot in the 80th minute - awarded after Dani Ceballos took down Phil Foden by his right knee in the box - sending keeper Thibaut Courtois the wrong way.

It was Haaland's 49th goal in 48 Champions League games.

But City have struggled to hold onto leads this season, conceding seven goals in the final 15 minutes of Champions League matches. And former City player Diaz pounced on a poor clearance by Ederson of Vinicius Jr's shot to tap home in the 86th minute.

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Bellingham grabbed huge headlines on his return to England as he scored the winner in the 92nd minute to groans from City fans after a shaky pass back from Mateo Kovacic to Rico Lewis saw Vinicius nip in and loop the ball over from the left. Bellingham got in front of John Stones to slot home.

"I'm happy for the goal and for helping the team," Diaz said. "I feel we played a great match, it's not easy here, against a pretty good team ... but there's still the second leg and the work is not finished."

Real and City failed to advance automatically to the last 16 as one of the top eight sides in the Champions League table, in the new league-phase format, meaning one of the tournament's top contenders will be eliminated early.

 

(With Agency Inputs)