French footballer Kylian Mbappe delivered a stellar performance as Spanish giants Real Madrid easily dispatched English champions Manchester City in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League knockout play-offs.
Mbappe netted his first hat-trick of the 2024/2025 Champions League, contributing to a humiliating defeat for Pep Guardiola’s side. Following a narrow 3-2 victory in the first leg, Madrid needed only to avoid defeat to secure their place in the next round. However, rather than adopting a defensive strategy, they capitalized on the vulnerabilities of Manchester City and went on the offensive.
The opening goal came in the fourth minute when Mbappe lobbed the ball over the onrushing Ederson after receiving a long pass from defender Raul Asencio. He doubled his tally shortly after, skillfully dummying Manchester City defender Josko Gvardiol before slotting the ball home. Mbappe completed his hat-trick in the 61st minute with a powerful left-footed shot past Ederson. Nico Gonzalez managed to grab a consolation goal for Manchester City, but it was not enough to prevent their exit from the Champions League. Mbappe’s outstanding performance earned him the Man of the Match title.
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Ibrahim Osman Secures Draw For Feyenoord
In another notable match, Ghana international Ibrahim Osman played a crucial role as Feyenoord secured a spot in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 by overcoming AC Milan in the playoffs. Although Osman was an unused substitute during Feyenoord’s 1-1 draw at San Siro on February 18, 2025, he had previously contributed to their narrow victory over Milan in the first leg.
In the return fixture, AC Milan initially took the lead just one minute into the match through Santiago Gimenez, putting them ahead at halftime. However, Milan’s hopes were dashed when French international Theo Hernández received a second yellow card, leaving them with ten men. Feyenoord capitalized on this advantage and equalized in the 73rd minute with a goal from Julian Carranza. The match ended in a 1-1 draw, allowing Feyenoord to progress with a 2-1 aggregate victory.
Despite not featuring in the second leg, Osman played a significant role in the first leg and has made six appearances in the UEFA Champions League this season. In all competitions, the talented winger has participated in 23 matches, scoring three goals and providing two assists. Currently on a season-long loan from Brighton and Hove Albion, he is expected to return to his parent club at the end of the season.
The 2024/2025 UEFA Champions League is underway, with a new format featuring 36 teams competing in a league phase.
Some notable matches that have already taken place include:
- Real Madrid CF 3 – 1 Manchester City F.C. at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid, Spain.
- Paris Saint-Germain F.C. 7 – 0 Stade Brestois 29 at the Parc des Princes.
- PSV 3 – 1 Juventus FC at the Philips Stadium in Eindhoven, Netherlands.
The competition is still in progress, with the final scheduled for May 31, 2025, at the Allianz Arena in Munich.
