"Sweet Revenge for Vinícius": Europe Praises Real Madrid and Criticizes Guardiola

In Spain, they believe the score could have been even larger.

Real Madrid was trailing Manchester City until the 86th minute but never gave up. Goals by Brahim Díaz and Jude Bellingham changed everything. Now, no one talks about refereeing (despite some obvious questions) – instead, they praise Madrid. And rightfully so. Real looked far more confident than their opponents. Next week, we’ll witness the second leg of the Champions League playoffs, which promises to be just as intense.

Here’s how European media reacted to Real Madrid's victory:

Marca: "Real Madrid finally beat a big team!"

"A magical night for Real Madrid. Where else could it happen? Of course, in the Champions League. The team secured their first win at the Etihad after six matches – three draws and three losses previously, some of them quite bitter. But more importantly, Real finally beat a big team this season. This is undoubtedly a confidence boost and motivation for the return leg. And their comeback victory in added time was well-deserved.

Ancelotti and Real Madrid had been haunted by their poor run against big teams, which had raised doubts. The hardest losses came against Barça, then a draw with Atlético, and defeats to Liverpool and Milan earlier in the UCL. But now, Madrid has shown that’s in the past. Yes, those losses were fair, but if they had lost at the Etihad too, fairness wouldn’t even be in the picture. Madrid was simply better."

AS: "It was an unfinished symphony…"

Spanish outlet AS notes that a larger victory for Real Madrid would have been more just.

"It could have been an unfinished symphony, but Bellingham completed it in added time. Madrid grabbed Guardiola’s team by the lapels, something they hadn’t managed before. Manchester City is defeated, and don’t let the final score fool you – the home side's loss was well-earned. Though Madrid has its share of problems, perhaps the Champions League is where they rediscover their sense of responsibility and where they defend well. Their attack wasn’t perfect – Ederson was a constant obstacle, but in the end, he made mistakes that canceled out his earlier saves.

Rodrygo and Vinícius were unstoppable. Mbappé kept the central defenders under pressure. The best version of Bellingham returned after halftime. Asensio, once a newcomer, now looks like a veteran. Even the narrow win in added time, after 20 shots, felt undeservedly small. They could have won by a much bigger margin."

The Athletic: "Manchester City got what they deserved"

One of the world’s most respected sports media outlets targeted Pep Guardiola, questioning if this could mark the end for the legendary coach.

"Guardiola said after the match that the result was deserved, claiming it’s hard to expect anything else from a team that reached the playoffs with just three wins in eight games. Once the dust settles, it’s fair to think City got exactly what they deserved. Two late goals have put the club in an incredibly tough spot. The second leg will require a monumental effort to keep their chances alive. And yet, by the 80th minute, they were leading 2-1. After Haaland’s goal, City needed to show resilience and spirit. Instead, we saw Madrid’s character – a team that was sharper and more insightful for most of the game. Are there questions for the coach? Absolutely. And we’ve been asking them for a while, with answers becoming increasingly clear for many."

L'Équipe: "Eternal Reality"

France’s largest sports outlet highlighted the contrast between the two teams.

"Manchester City is a shadow of its former self. That much is clear, and many acknowledge it. Real Madrid seized the opportunity – they couldn’t miss it, and Brahim Díaz and Bellingham helped the team achieve their goal. Next week, one of the tournament's favorites will return to the stage, while Manchester City remains in a dire situation.

This wasn’t just a clash of two big teams but also a duel between two star forwards. And the winner was Haaland. The Norwegian hadn’t scored in his last four games against Madrid but managed a brace here. Mbappé, on the other hand, missed several great chances and scored just one."

Bild: "This was revenge for Vinícius"

The German newspaper called Madrid’s victory a response to the banner displayed by Manchester City fans targeting Vinícius Júnior. The banner featured an image of Rodri with the Ballon d'Or and the message: "Stop crying."

"A sweet-tasting revenge! You could even say it was spicy. Before the match, City fans provoked Madrid’s Brazilian star with a giant banner showing Rodri with the Ballon d’Or and the caption: ‘Stop crying.’ This, of course, referenced the famous Oasis song, whose frontman Noel Gallagher is a devoted City supporter. Vinícius and Real Madrid felt wronged after the Ballon d’Or was awarded to another player in October 2024. Perhaps that’s why Madrid looked so motivated from the very beginning of the match."

Published by Patrick Jane
13.02.2025