Mbappe’s hat-trick seals Real Madrid’s Champions League last 16 spot

Kylian Mbappe delivered a masterclass on Wednesday, scoring a stunning hat-trick to lead Real Madrid to a 3-1 victory over Manchester City, securing a 6-3 aggregate win and a place in the UEFA Champions League last 16.

Pep Guardiola’s City, without their talismanic striker Erling Haaland, struggled at the Santiago Bernabéu, barely troubling the 15-time European champions. Their only consolation came in stoppage time when Nico Gonzalez tapped in after an Omar Marmoush free-kick struck the crossbar.

Mbappe wasted no time asserting Madrid’s dominance, lobbing City goalkeeper Ederson in the fourth minute after shrugging off Ruben Dias. The French star doubled the lead in the 33rd minute after a slick team move involving Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior, and Rodrygo. He completed his treble just after the hour mark, firing a low strike past Ederson to take his Champions League tally to seven goals in ten appearances this season.

City’s night went from bad to worse as John Stones limped off early, while Guardiola’s side never looked like mounting a comeback. Their struggles continue, with 13 defeats in their last 26 matches across all competitions. They now turn their focus to a crucial Premier League clash against Liverpool on Sunday as they fight to stay in the top four.

Meanwhile, Madrid remains in contention for multiple titles and, with Mbappe in top form, will believe they can conquer Europe once again. Their next challenge in the last 16 will be against either city rivals Atletico Madrid or Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen.