By Korede James
Jude Bellingham was the hero for Real Madrid as his stoppage time strike secured a 3-2 win against Manchester City in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League play-offs tie at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night.
Manchester City led twice off an Erling Haaland brace but Real Madrid fought back with Kylian Mbappe and former City player Brahim Diaz also scoring for the Spanish giants.
Both teams will meet in the second leg next Wednesday at the Santiago Bernabeu.
City took the lead thanks to Haaland, who received a chested pass from Josko Gvardiol and slotted past Thibaut Courtois.
There was a long check by VAR for a possible offside but the goal was eventually given.
Vinicius Junior and Daniel Ceballos then went close for Real Madrid in the first half but the equaliser did not arrive until after the break.
Mbappe, who was having a bright game, made it 1-1 on the hour mark as his shinned strike off a lobbed pass from Ceballos ended at the back of the net.
City regained their lead 10 minutes from time through Haaland, who scored from the penalty spot after Ceballos fouled Foden in the Real Madrid box.
But with three minutes left on the clock, Real Madrid equalised again, Diaz volleying home after Ederson failed to hold on to Vinicius’ initial shot.
Bellingham then struck the winner as he tapped into an empty net thanks to good work from Vinicius, who profited from another Ederson error.
In other Champions League play-offs fixtures on Tuesday night, Paris Saint-Germain thrashed fellow French side Brest 3-0 away, Juventus pipped visiting PSV 2-1 and Borussia Dortmund hammered Sporting Lisbon 3-0 in Portugal.
RESULTS
Manchester City 2-3 Real Madrid
Sporting Lisbon 0-3 Borussia Dortmund
Juventus 2-1 PSV
Brest 0-3 PSG
