Jude Bellingham’s stoppage-time winner stuns Manchester City as Real Madrid edge five-goal thriller

Manchester City’s Champions League dreams took a devastating hit as Real Madrid snatched a dramatic 3-2 victory at the Etihad, with Jude Bellingham sealing the deal in stoppage time.

Pep Guardiola had warned that Madrid’s front four was “impossible” to contain, and the Spanish giants proved him right. Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, Rodrygo, and Bellingham tormented City’s defence, exploiting every weakness in a game that pulsed with high-stakes drama.

For a moment, it seemed like Erling Haaland would be the hero. The Norwegian striker, who had failed to score in his previous four outings against Madrid, twice put City ahead. His first came from a delicate chest-down assist by Josko Gvardiol, while his second, a nerveless penalty after Phil Foden was fouled, had the home fans believing they could finally tame the European kings.

But Madrid refused to bow. Mbappé bundled in an equaliser, more luck than precision, but it set the stage for a relentless Madrid onslaught. With City struggling to maintain control, the inevitable happened.

Vinícius, a constant menace on the left, cut inside late in the game and fired a shot that Ederson could only parry. Brahim Díaz, the former City player, pounced on the rebound to level the score. He chose not to celebrate, but Madrid’s intent was clear—they were here to win.

Then came the knockout punch. A careless back-pass from Mateo Kovačić left Rico Lewis flat-footed. Vinícius reacted in a flash, stole possession, and chipped the ball past Ederson. As the ball trickled goalwards, Bellingham raced in to hammer it into the net, sealing a breathtaking win. The Etihad fell silent.

This was more than just a Madrid masterclass; it was a brutal reality check for City. They had their chances—Foden tested Courtois, Akanji struck the crossbar, and Haaland saw a shot deflected onto the woodwork. But Madrid, as always, found a way.

Guardiola now faces the daunting task of overturning the result at the Bernabéu, but against a Madrid side that thrives in these moments, City’s European fate is hanging by a thread.