Manchester City’s hope for defending their Champions League cup crushed by Real Madrid

Manchester City’s hopes of defending their Champions League title were crushed in a heart-stopping penalty shootout defeat to Real Madrid. The tie finished 4-4 on aggregate after a thrilling second leg, but City fell short 4-3 on penalties.

Bernardo Silva and Mateo Kovacic were the unfortunate missers from the spot for City. The game itself was a rollercoaster. Despite dominating possession, City conceded an early goal to Rodrygo. They responded with relentless pressure and finally equalized through Kevin De Bruyne in the 76th minute.

De Bruyne had a golden opportunity to win it in normal time, while Erling Haaland rattled the crossbar. However, it was Real Madrid, the record 14-time Champions League winners, who emerged victorious.

The defeat was a bitter pill to swallow for City, who had controlled the game for long stretches. Their vulnerability on the counter-attack proved costly, allowing Real Madrid to snatch the lead early on.