Real Madrid marched into the Champions League last 16 by overpowering Manchester City 3-1 in their second-leg playoff at the Santiago Bernabéu. Kylian Mbappé’s hat-trick gave ‘s side an abrupt end to their European campaign, with the aggregate score finishing at 6-3.

They didn’t wait long to strike. Barely four minutes in, Mbappé pounced on a long ball that eluded City’s back line and lobbed goalkeeper Ederson with a delicate touch. That set the tone for a contest that showcased Madrid’s composure and City’s frantic attempts to respond.

City suffered another setback when John Stones limped off soon after kickoff, forcing Guardiola to reshuffle an already stretched defense. Josko Gvardiol’s night turned into a nightmare on 33 minutes, when Mbappé feinted inside the box and left him on the turf before firing past Ederson.

TNT Sports pundit Rio Ferdinand laughed in disbelief: “Mbappé, that is wonderful, devastating. He has absolutely laid the defender down on the floor and said, ‘Sit down there and watch me slot this home.’”

Players like Jude Bellingham and controlled the midfield tempo, while City saw little of the ball in the areas that mattered. Madrid’s defense also stepped up, buttressed by Raúl Asencio and the tireless Federico Valverde. Any hopes of a second-half comeback quickly faded when Mbappé completed his hat-trick. He flipped the ball from one foot to the other, slipped between , and found the net with surgical precision.

City earned a late consolation goal during stoppage time. By the time the final whistle blew, Madrid were soaring. Players and supporters celebrated a performance underscoring their dominance on Europe’s biggest stage.

Mbappé walked off to a standing ovation, his first hat-trick in front of the Bernabéu faithful. He kept the game ball. Guardiola, meanwhile, was left to reflect on a campaign that evaporated in Madrid’s charged atmosphere.

With this victory, Real Madrid reminded the continent why the road to the Champions League trophy so often runs through them.