Mbappe hat-trick dumps City out of Europe

Kylian Mbappe bagged a first Champions League hat-trick as a Real Madrid player as Los Blancos ran out comfortable 3-1 winners over Manchester City at the Bernabeu.

Mbappe and Madrid were in scintillating form as they put a dismal City to the sword 6-3 on aggregate and progress to the Round of 16 of Europe’s elite club competition. Nico Gonzalez scored a consolation goal for City in second-half stoppage time.

Erling Haaland was left on the bench as Pep Guardiola’s side offered very little threat going forward and struggled to contain Real’s attacking talents on a miserable night for the Premier League champions.

Meanwhile, Carlo Ancelotti’s team, who stuttered throughout the league phase of this season’s competition, produced a performance that will cement them as firm favourites to retain their European crown.

KYLIAN MBAPPÉ: HAT-TRICK.
That’s the tweet. pic.twitter.com/2lXbWNoaPQ

— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) February 19, 2025

How the action unfolded

In a game that was always going to be a challenge for City began in disastrous fashion for the visitors.

After just four minutes, City found themselves behind when Mbappe finished wonderfully after latching on to a long ball over the top. The flight of the pass was misjudged by Ruben Dias, leaving Mbappe to effortlessly loft the ball over Ederson.

It seemed the Round of 16 already appeared to be slipping away from City. To compound matters, John Stones hobbled off moments later with Guardiola’s team struggling to contain the home side.

Kylian Mbappé, that is a brilliant finish 👏

Real Madrid extend their lead with an early goal!

📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/fORpRxdzL2

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 19, 2025

Real’s front three were purring. Mbappe, Rodrygo and Vinicius Junior were causing the City backline more than a few headaches. A second goal only felt like a matter of time.

And sure enough, the seemingly inevitable happened on 33-minutes when Mbappe again found the net after dancing past two City players in the box before rifling into the net.

It’s the Mbappé show 🍿

The forward sits Gvardiol down to score his second of the night 😳

📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/sZPyfyX4Lc

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 19, 2025

The visitors were holding on; a feeling of damage limitation starting to creep in.

It was more of the same after the break. Real looked dangerous every time they surged forward. City and Guardiola, meanwhile, looked nervy.

Mbappe went close to a hat-trick after stretching to meet a Federico Valverde cross but his poke was palmed wide by Ederson.

On the hour mark, however, Real’s number nine ensured he would be taking home the match ball when his left-footed strike beat the City goalkeeper to make it three.

By this point, Real’s progression was all but confirmed. Gonzalez grabbed a consolation goal in stoppage time but City were left to lick the wounds of a contest that, in the end, was never really a contest at all.