THIS night began with a feud over last year’s Ballon d’Or but turned into a shoot-out between three more contenders for football’s golden globe.
Erling Haaland netted twice – his first ever goals against Real Madrid – but Kylian Mbappe shinned a goal for the 15-time European champions and Jude Bellingham slid home for a last-gasp winner, either side of a strike from Real sub Brahim Diaz.
Manchester City must now suffer their annual trial by fire at the Bernabeu with a one-goal deficit heading into next Wednesday’s second leg.
But who knows why City seem so determined to wind up heavyweight opponents recently?
After Haaland had provoked a vengeful Arsenal into a 5-1 gubbing of Pep Guardiola’s at the Emirates nine days earlier, here City were hell-bent on stirring up European football’s mightiest club.
Sure, it was petty of Real to snub last October’s award ceremony after City’s Rodri pipped Vinicius Jr to the title of the world’s player of the year.
But why go out of your way to make them angry – this team of all teams.
City cranked up the aggro by unfurling a huge banner of their injured midfielder kissing his golden ball with the words ‘Stop crying your heart out’.
Rodri was spotted in the stands taking a photo of this and in the players’ tunnel, there were similar images to welcome Madrid’s players.
And ultimately City ended up with egg on their faces again.
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This was football’s version of Hollywood – players currently employed by City and Real occupied all of the top six places in those Ballon d’Or voting.
It high-quality, high-tempo, incident-packed and utterly breathless – just as it always is when the champions of England and Spain meet.
This has become an annual collision, usually in the latter stages, but here were the top two clubs in the Deloitte Money League scrapping it out in a play-off round for the right to reach the last 16.
Guardiola didn’t include any of his £180million January recruits in his starting line-up but sprang a surprise by starting Jack Grealish ahead of Phil Foden.
City had five specialist centre-backs in their starting line-up – John Stones in midfield and four strung across the back.
But Real, suffering a defensive injury crisis to rival Tottenham’s only had one young reserve central defender, Raul Asencio, available as Ancelotti employed two regular midfielders in defence.
In attack, though, Real go from famine to feast. From the off, they set about City by pinging passes at improbable angles at an impossible tempo.
Vinicius was floored by Ederson, who was rescued by an offside flag, and then got down well to keep out Kylian Mbappe after a gorgeous pass from the scorned Vinicius.
Then Ferland Mendy had a shot blocked by Nathan Ake and City were looking dizzy right up until the moment they scored.
Grealish played a delightful chipped pass into an advanced Josko Gvardiol who chested down for Haaland to lift his shot over Courtois.
It was the Norwegian’s first goal against Real, at his fifth attempt – although it took an an age for VAR to adjudge him onside, presumably a problem with the robot linesman’s wiring.
Grealish, after a bright start, was forced off injured, with Foden arriving and soon having a powerful shot pushed away by Thibaut Courtois.
Vinicius sent a curling effort against the crossbar, Mbappe had a shot deflected but City were gaining far more control in midfield, enjoying far more of the ball.
Rico Lewis replaced Manuel Akanji at half-time and soon Haaland – breaking into beas mode – rattled the crossbar with a blisterling shot.
For all their Hollywood quality in attack, Real were being pulled around frequently when City went forward.
Then the 15-time champions went up a gear – Bellingham heading wide when he should have scored and Mbappe testing Ederson.
These were the warning signs. City didn’t – couldn’t heed them – and on the hour mark, Real were level.
A free-kick was blocked to Dani Ceballos who floated a delicious ball over the top.
Mbappe timed his run perfectly but shinned his effort, which looped over Ederson – the ball crossing the line in slow motion – it seemed like several seconds before the Real fans at the very end of the stadium realised their team had scored.
This A-list contest was living up to its billing – Haaland and Mbappe, the leading men on either side, seizing the limelight.
Feeerico Valverde then picked out Bellingham with an extraordinary raking pass but the Englishman’s finish was weak and Ederson saved.
Then came the moment of fortune which swung the match back in City’s favour.
Foden cut inside from the right, beat Mendy and was then too quick for Ceballos who dived in and trod on his feet right on the edge of the area – Clement Turpin pointed to the spot and VAR concurred.
Up stepped Haaland, who had missed a couple during City’s slump, and sent Courtois the wrong way.
But five minutes form time, Vinicius had an agled drive saved by Ederson only for sub Diaz to snap up the rebound for a second Real equaliser.
Real’s winner was a disaster for City – Mateo Kovacic playing a poor ball to Lewis who lost possession, Vinicius chipping Ederson and Bellingham sliding in to score with virtually the last kick of the match.
