Real Madrid booked their place in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League with a commanding 5-1 aggregate victory over Manchester City, inspired by a decisive brace from Vinícius Júnior in a dramatic second-leg clash at the Etihad Stadium.
The visitors struck first in the 22nd minute after a major turning point in the game. City captain Bernardo Silva was shown a straight red card for handling the ball on the goal line, denying a clear scoring opportunity. Vinícius Júnior stepped up and calmly converted the resulting penalty to hand Real Madrid the lead on the night.
Despite being reduced to ten men, the home side responded with determination. In the 41st minute, Erling Haaland brought Manchester City level, finishing clinically to give the Etihad faithful a glimmer of hope before the break.
However, Real Madrid’s quality ultimately proved decisive. Deep into stoppage time, Vinícius Júnior grabbed his second of the night, finishing from close range after a brilliant cross from Aurélien Tchouaméni to seal the win for the visitors.
The result confirms a dominant 5-1 aggregate scoreline in favour of Real Madrid, once again highlighting their authority on the European stage.
Looking ahead, the Spanish giants could face Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals, with the German side holding a commanding 6-1 first-leg advantage over Atalanta BC.
