Jude Bellingham scored a late goal to help Real Madrid beat Manchester City 3-2 in the first leg of their Champions League play-off, after City had taken the lead twice and then lost it.
Erling Haaland scored for City in both halves in an exciting match at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday, but Kylian Mbappe and substitute Brahim Diaz scored for the defending champions Real Madrid.
There were many chances for both teams, with shots hitting the woodwork, but it was Jude Bellingham who had the final say with his late goal in stoppage time.
The game was a top clash between the two European giants, both recent winners of the Champions League, competing for a spot in the last 16 of the competition.
This is the fourth season in a row that these two teams have faced each other in the knockout rounds, setting the stage for another intense encounter at the Bernabeu Stadium next week.
Despite City's struggles with injuries in defense this season, manager Pep Guardiola was able to field five players who are considered first-choice in those positions.
Manuel Akanji and Josko Gvardiol played as full-backs, with Nathan Ake and Ruben Dias in the center, and John Stones in midfield where he had excelled during the treble-winning season in 2023.
Real Madrid created several chances early in the game, testing City's defensive line, but the home team took the lead against the run of play.
Jack Grealish provided the assist for Haaland's goal, which was initially ruled offside by VAR but later given as a goal after a review.
The match saw back-and-forth action with both teams having opportunities to score, but in the end, it was Real Madrid who came out on top with Bellingham's decisive strike.