Kylian Mbappé delivered a stunning hat-trick to dismantle Manchester City and send Real Madrid soaring into the next round of the Champions League, leaving Pep Guardiola’s side shell-shocked and their European campaign in tatters. The 3-1 victory at the Santiago Bernabéu sealed a 6-3 aggregate win for Madrid, confirming their status as serious contenders for the trophy they cherish above all others.

For City, this was not just a defeat but a stark revelation. Guardiola had urged his team to “at least give the Bernabéu a fright,” but instead, they were the ones left trembling. The machine-like dominance that defined City for nearly a decade now seems a distant memory. From the opening minutes, it was clear this would be a night of humiliation, not heroism.

The tone was set just four minutes in. Real Madrid’s Raúl Asencio launched a long ball over the top of City’s defense, catching Rúben Dias and John Stones flat-footed. Mbappé, lurking with intent, watched the ball bounce before casually lifting it over the stranded Ederson and into the net. It was a goal of devastating simplicity, and it left City reeling.

Without key defenders Kyle Walker, Manuel Akanji, and Rico Lewis, City’s makeshift backline was exposed. Twenty-year-old Abdukodir Khusanov, playing out of position, was handed the unenviable task of marking Vinícius Júnior and Mbappé. It was a mismatch from the start. Josko Gvardiol fared little better against Rodrygo on the opposite flank, and when John Stones limped off shortly after the opening goal, City’s defensive woes deepened.

Madrid, meanwhile, played with a swagger befitting their storied history in this competition. Every attack carried menace. Vinícius tormented Khusanov, Rodrygo left Ilkay Gündogan in his wake, and Mbappé was a constant threat. The French forward saw two shots deflected and another saved by Ederson before he struck again in the 34th minute.

This time, Rodrygo danced across the edge of the box, drawing Khusanov out of position before slipping a pass through the young defender’s legs. Mbappé collected the ball, cut inside, and left Gvardiol on the floor before slotting home with ease. City, already trailing 2-0 on the night and 5-2 on aggregate, looked utterly lost.

The third goal, arriving just after the hour mark, was the final nail in the coffin. Mbappé, momentarily shaken after a collision with Ederson, picked himself up and curled a precise, low shot into the bottom corner. It was a goal that encapsulated his brilliance and Madrid’s superiority. By this point, the Bernabéu was in full voice, serenading their team with olés as City were reduced to chasing shadows.

A late consolation goal from Nico González did little to lift the gloom for City. It was a moment of fleeting pride in a night defined by their inadequacies. Guardiola’s side, once the epitome of control and precision, were outclassed in every department.

For Real Madrid, this was a statement victory. Carlo Ancelotti’s side, led by the irrepressible Mbappé, confirmed their status as genuine contenders for the Champions League crown. The only sour note was a yellow card for Jude Bellingham, ruling him out of the first leg of the quarter-final against Bayer Leverkusen or Atlético Madrid.

As for City, the questions will be harsh and numerous. This was not just a defeat; it was the end of an era. The machine has broken down, and the road to recovery looks long and uncertain. For now, the Champions League dream is over, and the haunting reality of their decline is impossible to ignore.