Manchester City suffered a shocking 2-3 defeat at the Etihad Stadium to Real Madrid, a result that left them with an uphill battle heading into the second leg of the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League playoffs. Coach Pep Guardiola will look to turn things around, but a persistent “curse” could jeopardize the club’s hopes of a comeback.
In what was one of the most thrilling encounters of this Champions League season, City took the lead twice, only to falter and give up the advantage. Despite the narrow margin, City’s early lead could be seen as a “curse” that has haunted the team in recent seasons.
In the last four matchups between Manchester City and Real Madrid, the team that scored first has been eliminated. With Erling Haaland scoring the opening goal of this tie, this ongoing trend casts a shadow over City’s aspirations for a comeback.
In 13 Champions League encounters (including today’s game) between the two clubs, the record is surprisingly even. Both teams have won 4 times, with 5 draws. However, history suggests that City’s early lead may be their undoing, as the team that opens the scoring has been eliminated in each of the last four series.
The ‘curse’ in action: Previous encounters
This “curse” has been evident since the 2019-20 season and has continued in every subsequent matchup between City and Madrid:
2019-20 Round of 16: Real Madrid took the lead in the first leg with a 60th-minute goal but City responded quickly, winning 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu. City sealed the tie with a 2-1 victory at home, advancing with a 4-2 aggregate score.2021-22 Semifinals: Kevin De Bruyne put City ahead in the second minute of the first leg, which ended 4-3 in their favor. However, Real Madrid mounted a comeback at the Bernabeu, winning 3-1 to advance 6-5 on aggregate. Madrid would go on to win the Champions League that season, defeating Liverpool in the final.2022-23 Semifinals: Vinicius Junior opened the scoring for Madrid in the 36th minute of the first leg, which ended 1-1. In the second leg, City delivered a dominant 4-0 performance, advancing 5-1 on aggregate and eventually winning the final against Inter Milan.2023-24 Quarterfinals: In a tightly contested first leg, Bernardo Silva scored early in the 2nd minute, but the game ended 3-3. The second leg at the Etihad finished 1-1, and Real Madrid advanced via penalties.
The 2024-25 “curse” continues?
With Haaland’s opening goal in the 2024-25 edition, the trend of the team that scores first being eliminated looms large. City lost 2-3 at home, and their Champions League future now hangs in the balance. The second leg will take place on Wednesday, 19th, and Guardiola will be eager to break the “curse” and push his team toward the semifinals.
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