Manchester City lost 3-2 to Real Madrid in their crucial Champions League Play-off match on Tuesday night (according to India time), delivering yet another inspired show at the Etihad Stadium. 

Madrid made the most of the errors made by Pep Guardiola's side and through a clinical display won the first leg of the play-off.

City took the early lead through Erling Haaland's sublime finish in the 19th minute. The defending champions Real Madrid brought the score on level terms in the 60th minute. Kylian Mbappe took the onus for scripting a comeback and scored for Madrid. City took the lead once again in the 80th minute, and Haaland scored again this time from the spot. 

It was followed by Brahim Diaz's equalizer in the 86th minute. In the end, it was Madrid who came with the winner and rocked City in their backyard once again. 

Jude Bellingham scored the differentiating goal for Madrid in the 92nd minute of the match, and the lead stood till the final whistle.

Man City manager Pep Guardiola who termed City’s performance as the best against Real Madrid in recent times, expressed his thoughts on the loss suffered by his team and made it known that the City ended up on the losing side because of the collective “bad decisions” the team made.

Pep explained, “Many times it has happened this season. I know the quality of Real Madrid. We took the game in the second half and tried to attack too quickly. It happened because they are an exceptional team. However, some decisions became turning points of our defeat."

Things only get tougher for the Sky Blues now, as they must try to earn a result in Madrid to keep their European hopes alive.

“Of course now it will be tough. We have to recover. I think now about Newcastle [in the Premier League on Saturday] and then go to the Bernabeu,” Guardiola added.

Despite the loss, Guardiola and City are still in the competition. They will enter the Bernabeu with a one-goal deficit. However, things still pretty much hang in balance and any team can progress to the Round of 16. The second leg of the contest will take place on 20th February.