Manchester City’s painful downfall was laid bare in front of their own supporters as Real Madrid dismantled them with ruthless efficiency. High in the upper stands of the Santiago Bernabeu, City’s traveling fans could only watch in despair as their side, once dominant in European football, struggled to mount any resistance.
The decisive moment came with ten minutes left on the clock when Mateo Kovacic sent a weak effort straight at Thibaut Courtois, the Real Madrid goalkeeper, who had barely been tested. With their team trailing 3-0 – a scoreline that flattered them – the City faithful responded with ironic cheers and applause. A few minutes later, after a rare sequence of completed passes, they sarcastically chanted “Ole” in mock celebration.
This night marked a low point for Pep Guardiola, whose squad capitulated meekly. From the moment Kylian Mbappe netted the first goal of his hat-trick in the fourth minute, the result felt inevitable. Losing to Real Madrid is an expected challenge in the Champions League, but failing to even put up a fight signaled Manchester City’s steep decline.
An era nearing its end
The defeat not only ended their Champions League campaign – City failed to reach the last 16 for the first time since 2012-13 – but also hinted at the conclusion of an era. Guardiola himself seemed to acknowledge this, stating, “Nothing is eternal.”
“The best team won,” he admitted. “They deserved it. This is the benchmark. We have to accept it and move forward.”
When asked if the squad needed rebuilding, Guardiola remained measured: “We have time. We have 13 games left in the Premier League to ensure we qualify for this competition next season.”
The gulf between the two sides was stark. While Real Madrid has traditionally been one of City’s fiercest European competitors, their latest encounter was anything but close. In previous years, clashes between these teams had been tightly contested, but this time, Madrid breezed past City with ease.
Mbappe’s brilliance was on full display as he doubled his tally in the 33rd minute with an instinctive finish before completing his hat-trick just after the hour mark. By then, the contest was long over. The spectacle inside the Bernabeu, with thousands of Madrid fans welcoming their team hours before kickoff, only added to the sense of occasion.
The need for renewal
Guardiola will point to injuries as a factor, with Erling Haaland unfit to start and John Stones forced off early. However, the way his team surrendered was more concerning than the result itself. City never showed belief in overturning their first-leg deficit, despite Guardiola insisting beforehand that a “perfect” performance was needed.
Signs of decline were everywhere. Kevin De Bruyne, a key figure in past battles with Real Madrid, was left on the bench after a disappointing first-leg display. Stones, who turns 31 in May, remains an important player but struggles with injuries. Ilkay Gundogan, a surprise starter at 34, looked far from his best. Meanwhile, Ederson’s reliability has diminished, and Bernardo Silva no longer exerts the influence he once did. Jack Grealish, set to turn 30 in September, was also not in the starting lineup.
City have begun introducing fresh faces, with young talents such as Omar Marmoush, Nico Gonzalez, and 20-year-old defender Abdukodir Khusanov getting opportunities. But against Madrid, they were outclassed. Khusanov, in particular, was relentlessly targeted, exposed by Real’s calculated attacks down his flank.
Guardiola now faces a crucial decision. The old guard that has delivered so much success looks past its peak. City’s unprecedented dominance in English and European football was built on a team with relentless hunger, but that hunger seems to have faded. If Guardiola is to justify his new contract, he must oversee a transformation before discussions about his future resurface.
The Bernabeu, with its towering five-tiered stands, was an unforgiving stage for City’s collapse. For Guardiola, the night was especially bitter, as Madrid’s supporters delighted in his misery, a reflection of his past ties with Barcelona. His name was met with deafening jeers before kickoff, and when cameras captured his frustration after Mbappe’s early goal, a roar of approval spread through the stadium.
As the final whistle blew, City’s players left the pitch looking dejected, knowing that some of them may have played their last Champions League match for the club. Even Gonzalez’s late consolation goal did little to change the mood.
Manchester City have been a remarkable force in football, illuminating both domestic and European competitions with their brilliance. However, this performance suggested that their golden era may be coming to an end. A transformation is needed if they are to return to their former heights. Real Madrid’s emphatic victory made one thing clear: Manchester City are no longer at the top.
