Real Madrid edged past Olympique de Marseille with a 2-1 win in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday night at the Santiago Bernabeu.
It was a closely-fought match ultimately decided by two penalties for the home team, converted by superstar Kylian Mbappe.
Most penalties in UCL history
Spanish statistician Alexis MarĂa MartĂn-Tamayo BlĂĄzquez – better known as MisterChip – revealed on his X account that with the second penalty against Marseille, Real Madrid have now been awarded 63 penalties in the Champions League.
That tally sees the 15-time winners surpass Bayern Munich to become the club with the most penalties in the competition’s history.
Bayern Munich occupy the second place with 62 penalties awarded while Barcelona are third, with 56 spot-kicks given in their favour so far.
Controversy surrounding Real Madrid’s second penalty
Real Madrid were awarded the first penalty in the first half for a poor challenge on Rodrygo Goes by Geoffrey Kondogbia and Mbappe had no problem tucking it away.
The second one came after the half-time break for a handball by Facundo Medina and the Frenchman found the back of the net from the penalty spot again.
However, the referee’s decision to award Real Madrid the penalty for the handball sparked some controversy, with Marseille manager Roberto De Zerbi and director Medhi Benatia both questioning the call.
"The second penalty was a bit embarrassing, and I would say that if it had been awarded to me,” De Zerbi said, as quoted by MARCA.
“It’s a very difficult penalty to accept, but I already experienced it here seven years ago (with Juventus in 2018). I have the same feeling,” Benatia noted, insinuating favourable treatment towards Real Madrid.
Manchester City's fans started the night by unfurling a huge flag taunting Real Madrid and Vinicius Junior for their angry reaction to Rodri beating the Brazilian to last year's Ballon d'Or.
'Stop Crying Your Heart Out' was the message, the words of the Oasis hit accompanied by an image of Rodri kissing the coveted trophy at the ceremony boycotted by Real in protest at the decision.
Firing barbs at the most ruthless and experienced operators in Champions League history is a dangerous occupation, and so it proved.
All the tears belonged to City and their supporters at the final whistle after a trademark smash-and-grab late surge gave Real a potentially decisive 3-2 advantage after the first leg of this play-off to reach the last 16 of the Champions League.
Manchester City's fans started the night by unfurling a huge flag taunting Real Madrid and Vinicius Junior for their angry reaction to Rodri beating the Brazilian to last year's Ballon d'Or.
'Stop Crying Your Heart Out' was the message, the words of the Oasis hit accompanied by an image of Rodri kissing the coveted trophy at the ceremony boycotted by Real in protest at the decision.
Firing barbs at the most ruthless and experienced operators in Champions League history is a dangerous occupation, and so it proved.
All the tears belonged to City and their supporters at the final whistle after a trademark smash-and-grab late surge gave Real a potentially decisive 3-2 advantage after the first leg of this play-off to reach the last 16 of the Champions League.
Manchester City fans taunted Real Madrid about Rodri's Ballon d'Or win
There was ill-fortune, too, as Jack Grealish went off injured after 30 minutes, having played in the manner of a man with a point to prove to his manager.
Real could scent the nerves and anxiety on the pitch and off. Jude Bellingham's injury-time winner almost had a sense of inevitability as City's scrambled minds led to mistakes. The punishment came from close range, England's talisman turning home with erratic keeper Ederson out of his ground after being lobbed by Vinicius Junior.
Vinicius Junior, understandably given the pre-match banner, relished the moment and revelled in Real's victory celebrations. The perfect answer.
It was Real Madrid being, well, Real Madrid. Nothing is ever settled against them until the final whistle sounds.
The holders only led in this game for 90 seconds. Crucially for them, and perhaps fatally for Manchester City, it was for the final 90 seconds.
It leaves City, given their current form and propensity for collapse, almost needing a miracle in the second leg at The Bernabeu. And miracles only tend to happen to the team in white in that iconic, unforgiving arena.
The tale was also told in the tired legs that consumed City in the second half, when Real ran the show, missing a host of chances as they assumed control, before Kylian Mbappe's half-hit finish equalised Erling Haaland's early strike.
It was totally against the run of play when the striker restored City's lead, which they held until Real's trademark late surge.
City may yet defy the odds in Madrid, but come what may, this season continues to carry all the air of an era ending, a great team reaching the end of the road.
Bellingham's winner was his third goal of this Champions League campaign
Ederson, so reliable in goal for so long throughout City's many glories, now looks vulnerable. The great Kevin De Bruyne, at 33, and 30-year-old Bernardo Silva, were laboured and peripheral.
John Stones tried to act as a defensive screen but Real carry too much threat in the shape of Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo, with Bellingham always ready to add his own menace, as he did to decisive effect.
Guardiola looked pained and frustrated, as well as frantic at times in his technical area, saying: "Many times it happens this season. I know the quality of Real Madrid. We took the game in the second half and tried to attack too quickly. It happens because they are an exceptional team.
"It happens many times this season. Bad decisions, that's all. I take it. It's not about you and me, or just the team, it's everyone."
He added: "We are just not stable enough. I've been here for many years and we've been an extraordinary team, a machine every three days.
"This year, I accept when the opponent is better but at the moment I'm not good enough to give composure to the team to manage these situations. It's the truth.
"The accountability belongs to all of us, not just the players. For me, it would be easy to blame a specific player but that is ridiculous and doesn't work. It is me first and the players as well.
"The truth is that we are not stable enough in those moments. Today is not an exception, it happened many times. Today is what it is, tomorrow you have to continue and have fresh legs and fresh minds."
Guardiola has a monumental task to pull off a victory at The Bernabeu – but the body of evidence is also increasing to suggest he has a similar job to revive Manchester City's fallen champions.
- Phil McNulty, Chief football writer at Etihad Stadium
Manager Luis Enrique said on Friday he hopes Paris Saint-Germain can find a solution to a dispute with Kylian Mbappe, noting the Ligue 1 club have prior experience in resolving contract issues with the French star.
Relations between Mbappe and PSG have been tense since the French forward said he would not renew his contract which expires at the end of the 2023-24 season, when he could leave Paris for free.
PSG President Nasser Al-Khelaifi has said they will not let him go on a free transfer after the club spent 180 million euros to sign him, with the forward reportedly having been frozen out of the Ligue 1 champions' main squad.
This is not the first time PSG and Mbappe have been involved in a contract standoff. Mbappe was also set to leave on a free transfer at the end of the 2021-22 season, but after PSG rejected a bid from Real Madrid he signed a contract extension.
Asked about Mbappe ahead of Saturday's season-opening home match against Lorient, Enrique told reporters: "It's a subject we've come across before and a solution was found between the club and the player.
Paris St Germain forward Kylian Mbappe must sign a new contract if he wants to stay at the club as the French champions will not let him leave for free next year, club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi said on Wednesday.
Mbappe sent a letter to PSG last month stating that he had no intention of extending his contract, which expires in 2024.
But he later clarified that he had not asked the French club to allow him to move to Spanish giants Real Madrid, who have in the past tried and failed to land the World Cup-winning forward.
France striker Kylian Mbappe scored to set another milestone as his side maintained their perfect record in Euro 2024 qualifying Group B with a 1-0 home victory against Greece who finished with 10 men after a late sending off on Monday.
Mbappe netted a second-half penalty to become the all-time leading French scorer over a season with 54 goals for club and country, beating the mark set by Just Fontaine in 1957-58.
Kylian Mbappe said he never asked Paris St Germain to allow him to move to Real Madrid in the close season, confirming that he is happy to play in the French capital next season but will not extend his contract with the Ligue 1 champions.
Mbappe caused a stir when he sent a letter to the club stating that he had no intention to extend his PSG contract, which expires in 2024 if he does not activate the clause that will extend his deal by a further 12 months.
PSG find themselves in a fix as they risk losing Mbappe for free in June 2024. He will also be free to sign a pre-contract agreement with a new club from January should he decide to see out the remaining year of his deal at PSG.
Chelsea transfer news: Kylian Mbappe has taken to social media to set right reports of a move to Real Madrid.
"Kylian Mbappe has hit back at suggestions that he wants to leave Paris-Saint Germain this summer after it emerged that he had refused to trigger an extra one-year extension of his contract. It was revealed on Monday night when reports of Mbappe's letter to PSG broke that the 24-year-old had told PSG he wouldn't be taking up the option to prolong his commitment to the club past 2024.
Last summer Mbappe signed a two-year deal with an option for a third but it was announced publicly as a straight three-year deal until 2025. It was then down to him to trigger the further 12 months by the end of June. His letter to the club informing them of the decision was leaked."
With PSG keen to recoup some of the £154m they splashed on him when making his loan from Monaco permanent in 2018, it has now been reported that French champions are ready to sell him in order to stop a free transfer next summer."
Reports in France stated that Mbappe had made his decision and wanted to join Real Madrid this year having been made aware of Karim Benzema's departure from the club. The 35-year-old announced he was leaving Los Blancos after 14 years in a statement last week.
Le Parisien then reported on Tuesday that Mbappe wants to join Madrid. In a quote tweet reply to the story, Mbappe then wrote: "LIES...At the same time, the bigger it is, the more it passes. I have already said that I will continue next season at PSG where I am very happy.""
Although Mbappe has not ruled out leaving the club in the future, he has yet again publicly stated his desire to remain in the French capital, though he doesn't deny being interested in other moves as well later on this year either.
Mbappe helped PSG to win Ligue 1 under Christophe Galtier this season, scoring 29 times in 34 games. His fellow attacking partner Lionel Messi has chosen to leave the club after two years, moving to Inter Miami instead."
Neymar is a target for the Saudi Pro League and Al-Hilal as PSG look to revamp their side.
Mbappe is PSG's all-time top-scorer with 212 goals.
Kylian Mbappe has told Paris St Germain he will not take up the option of a one-year extension in his contract when it expires next June, L'Equipe reported on Monday.
Mbappe, a World Cup winner with France in 2018, confirmed his decision in a letter to the club and could even be sold this summer as PSG will seek to avoid losing him for free, according to the local reports.
