Real Madrid vs Man City Player Ratings: Vinicius Jr Shines as Courtois Leads Champions League Charge
Real Madrid delivered when it mattered most, with Vinicius Jr stepping up in emphatic fashion to guide his side past Manchester City and into the Champions League quarter-finals. Holding a commanding 3-0 advantage from the first leg, Los Blancos avoided any late drama at the Etihad Stadium, sealing a 2-1 win in a high-tempo encounter.
Vinicius Jr scores twice as Real Madrid defeat Man City 2-1, with Courtois producing key saves to help secure Champions League quarter-final qualification.
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The visitors nearly extended their aggregate lead instantly, but Federico Valverde failed to convert a golden early opportunity following his previous hat-trick display. Manchester City responded strongly, testing Thibaut Courtois through efforts from Rayan Cherki and Rodri, yet the goalkeeper stood firm.
Madrid’s opener arrived amid controversy. Vinicius initially struck the post before the ball returned to him for another attempt, only for Bernardo Silva to intervene on the line. Although offside was first signaled, VAR review revealed Silva had used his arm to block the shot. The City captain was dismissed, and Madrid were awarded a penalty, which Vinicius confidently converted after missing from the spot in the previous leg.
Despite creating further chances to kill off the tie, Vinicius was unable to capitalize, allowing City to regroup. Erling Haaland tested Courtois with a standout effort, while Rodri missed a clear opportunity. Eventually, a deflected pass from Trent Alexander-Arnold fell kindly for Haaland, who equalized.
The second half remained open, with both sides generating opportunities. City twice had goals ruled out for offside, while Madrid appealed for a penalty after Kylian Mbappe was pulled down. Vinicius also saw a goal disallowed, but he made the decisive contribution in stoppage time, expertly guiding Aurelien Tchouameni’s cross beyond Gigi Donnarumma.
Goalkeeper & Defence
Thibaut Courtois (8/10): Produced several outstanding saves early on before being forced off at half-time due to injury.
Trent Alexander-Arnold (7/10): Struggled defensively at times and unintentionally set up City’s goal, though his passing remained sharp.
Antonio Rudiger (7/10): Maintained a strong physical contest with Haaland, limiting his influence for long spells.
Dean Huijsen (8/10): Delivered crucial defensive actions and circulated possession effectively in one of his standout displays.
Fran Garcia (7/10): Stayed positionally disciplined and contributed to Madrid’s defensive stability.
Midfield
Federico Valverde (7/10): Covered immense ground and contributed defensively but lacked precision in front of goal.
Thiago Pitarch (6/10): Competitive but less influential than in recent outings, occasionally bypassed by the game’s pace.
Aurelien Tchouameni (8/10): Grew into the match after a slow start and provided an excellent assist.
Arda Guler (8/10): Advanced play effectively and linked well with Vinicius, building on his previous performance.
Attack
Brahim Diaz (6/10): Offered some creativity but failed to consistently impact proceedings.
Vinicius Jr (8/10): Persistent and dangerous throughout, converting from the spot and adding a late goal despite missed chances.
Subs & Manager
Andriy Lunin (7/10): Came on for Courtois and made an immediate contribution with a solid save.
Kylian Mbappe (7/10): Introduced from the bench, added pace and should have earned a penalty.
Eduardo Camavinga (N/A): Limited involvement.
Manuel Angel (N/A): No time to influence the match.
Dani Carvajal (N/A): Late substitution.
Alvaro Arbeloa (7/10): Managed the tie effectively, ensuring composure and timely scoring to secure progression.
