Spanish media rip into Man City as problems highlighted amid huge Pep Guardiola admission

Manchester City has always been a force to be reckoned with in the world of football, especially in European competitions like the Champions League. For several years now, they have been seen as one of the most dominant and talented teams in Europe. However, the 2024-2025 season has been an entirely different story. Despite their successes in recent years, Manchester City faced a significant setback in their pursuit of the Champions League this season. On this particular occasion, their defeat came at the hands of their most formidable rivals—Real Madrid.

Real Madrid and Manchester City have had a series of intense encounters in recent seasons, and this latest match added another dramatic chapter to that story. City had high hopes of avenging their recent losses to Madrid in previous Champions League rounds. The game, played at the Etihad Stadium, promised to be a thrilling contest between two of the biggest clubs in European football. Yet, as the game unfolded, Manchester City’s dreams of advancing in the competition were dashed by defensive errors and poor decision-making at crucial moments.

The game started with plenty of excitement and energy, as both teams showcased their attacking prowess. Manchester City, under the guidance of manager Pep Guardiola, had been in excellent form leading up to the match. With the likes of Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne, and Jack Grealish in the lineup, they appeared more than capable of overcoming Madrid’s famed resilience. However, despite creating several opportunities and taking a 2-1 lead thanks to Haaland’s brace, City’s defensive frailties and lapses in concentration ultimately cost them.

Real Madrid, on the other hand, was not to be underestimated. Although they had been facing some injury troubles and were missing a few key players, they still boasted an incredible squad led by Carlo Ancelotti. Vinicius Jr., Jude Bellingham, and Rodrygo were all crucial players for Madrid, and they provided plenty of moments of brilliance during the match. Madrid had always prided themselves on their ability to rise to the occasion in European nights, and this match was no different.

The turning point in the match came late in stoppage time. Manchester City seemed to be on the verge of securing a vital home win that would give them an advantage in the second leg. But then, with only minutes remaining, disaster struck for City. Rico Lewis, who had been a key figure for them during the match, failed to intercept a pass, allowing Vinicius Jr. to break free. The Brazilian forward slid a perfectly timed ball through to Jude Bellingham, who coolly finished to score the decisive goal in the dying moments of the game. The final scoreline was a 3-2 victory for Real Madrid, leaving City with plenty to do in the return leg at the Bernabeu.

As the final whistle blew, Manchester City’s players were left in disbelief, while Real Madrid’s players celebrated a dramatic and hard-fought victory. City had the upper hand for most of the match, but their inability to manage the final stages ultimately cost them. It was a heartbreaking defeat for Guardiola’s men, and one that raised serious questions about their ability to compete at the highest level of European football.

The Spanish press wasted no time in commenting on the game. Major outlets like Marca, AS, Mundo Deportivo, and SPORT provided in-depth analysis and reported on the key moments of the match from a Spanish perspective. Each outlet had its own take on the match, with a few common themes emerging throughout their coverage. Real Madrid’s resilience, Manchester City’s defensive vulnerabilities, and Guardiola’s tactics were all major points of discussion.

Marca’s report, written by Jose Maria Rodriguez, praised Real Madrid’s ability to overcome adversity and secure a memorable victory. He noted that Madrid’s performance was the best they had played all season, even though they were five minutes away from losing the match. Haaland’s two goals had put Madrid on the back foot, and they had to climb a significant uphill battle. However, with a goal from Brahim Diaz and another from Bellingham in the dying seconds, Madrid completed a dramatic comeback to win the game 3-2. Rodriguez highlighted that Real Madrid had shown the true face of European champions, displaying their resilience and ability to deliver when it mattered most.

Rodriguez also praised Madrid’s attacking play, noting that they were aggressive and fast from the very first minute of the match. Despite missing several key players, including the injured Karim Benzema, Madrid’s squad showed their depth and quality. The article highlighted the tactical approach of Ancelotti, who made several key substitutions to freshen up the team and shift the momentum in Madrid’s favor. In particular, the late introduction of Bellingham proved to be a masterstroke, as he scored the decisive goal that sealed the victory for the Spanish giants. Rodriguez concluded by emphasizing that this win would go down as one of the memorable nights in Madrid’s illustrious history in European football.

AS, on the other hand, took a slightly different approach to analyzing the match. Luis Nieto focused on the shortcomings of Manchester City and their inability to secure the victory despite leading the game. He pointed out that City’s defensive performance was subpar, with goalkeeper Ederson having an off night. Ederson made several errors, and although he recovered somewhat throughout the match, his mistakes were crucial in handing Madrid the upper hand. Nieto also praised the performances of Madrid’s attacking players, especially Rodrygo and Vinicius, who caused problems for City’s defense all night long. The article also mentioned the performance of Bellingham, who was instrumental in the second half, and his late goal was a perfect reflection of his importance to the team.

Nieto also pointed out some of Guardiola’s tactical decisions, which raised questions. He noted that Guardiola opted to play with five defenders, but the defensive setup was far from solid. Despite the large number of defenders on the pitch, City was still unable to contain Madrid’s attacking threats, and they were punished for their mistakes. The absence of new signings and the fact that some key players were still recovering from injuries meant that City was not at their best. The article suggested that while City had dominated possession and created several chances, they lacked the clinical finishing and defensive stability needed to close out the game. Overall, Nieto’s analysis painted a picture of a team that had the tools to win but fell short due to defensive mistakes and poor decision-making.

Mundo Deportivo’s Javier Alfaro echoed some of these concerns in his report, focusing on the fact that City’s defense was much weaker than in previous seasons. Alfaro argued that despite playing with five defenders, City was unable to defend properly against Madrid’s attack. He noted that this vulnerability had been a recurring issue for City throughout the season, and it was exposed once again in this high-profile match. Alfaro also mentioned that City needed to be more clinical in front of goal if they hoped to turn the tie around in the second leg at the Bernabeu. He concluded that Guardiola’s team needed to tighten up defensively and improve their overall play if they wanted to have any chance of advancing in the competition.

SPORT’s Iker Lloveras took a more critical approach to Guardiola’s tactics and decisions. He argued that Guardiola seemed resigned to the defeat after the final whistle, as if he had come to accept that the same issues were repeating themselves. Lloveras pointed out that City had conceded 20 shots during the match, the highest number they had allowed in a home game under Guardiola’s tenure. He also highlighted the fact that Madrid’s expected goals were much higher than City’s, meaning that the scoreline could have been more lopsided in favor of the Spanish side. Lloveras also noted Guardiola’s post-match comments, in which he admitted that City had made bad decisions and that he took responsibility for the result.

Lloveras also raised questions about Guardiola’s future at the club. He suggested that the dressing room might not be responding to Guardiola as effectively as before, and that the team’s poor form could be linked to a lack of belief or motivation. Guardiola himself seemed uncertain about his future, as he mentioned in his post-match comments that he would decide what to do next. He admitted that the loss could lead to his departure, but he was unsure what the future held. This uncertainty added further fuel to the speculation about Guardiola’s position at Manchester City.

As the reports from the Spanish media made clear, the defeat to Real Madrid was a major blow for Manchester City’s European aspirations. The team had been strong in recent years, but their defensive weaknesses were exposed once again in a high-stakes encounter. Guardiola will need to address these issues if City is to have any chance of progressing in the Champions League this season. The tie is far from over, and City will need to put in a much-improved performance at the Bernabeu if they want to turn things around.

The second leg will be a crucial test for Guardiola and his players. Madrid will undoubtedly be confident after their dramatic win at the Etihad, but City has the quality and the talent to bounce back. However, if they continue to make the same mistakes in defense and fail to capitalize on their chances in attack, they may find themselves out of the competition once again. The pressure is now firmly on City to show resilience and character in Madrid and prove that they are still a force to be reckoned with in European football. The fate of their Champions League campaign hangs in the balance, and only time will tell if they can overcome the odds and secure a place in the next round.