Man City 2-1 Real Madrid Player Ratings: Varane endures night to forget
A night perhaps best remembered for Raphael Varane's error-strewn display, Manchester City secured a 2-1 second leg win over Real Madrid to book their place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Here we look at the ratings from their victory at the Etihad Stadium.
Manchester City - 6.97
Ederson - 6.84: Had to be alert as Karim Benzema let fly from distance, but could do little to stop the Frenchman from scoring on the half hour mark. Denied a Benzema half chance in the second half, but all in all, a fairly quiet day in the office for the Brazilian.
Kyle Walker - 7.33: Solid performance from right-back. Tried his luck from distance in the first half, only to find row Z, but got forward well as he completed two dribbles, and made two tackles, in a sound showing.
Fernandinho - 6.27: He did just enough to ensure Manchester City came away with a 2-1 win. Perhaps could have done more to keep Karim Benzema in check, with the Frenchman targeting the experienced Brazilian, and was often helped out by Kyle Walker and Aymeric Laporte.
Aymeric Laporte - 6.71: Composed at the back, as is to be expected from the defender. Did well to block a Karim Benzema effort on the hour mark to keep the score on the night level. Made a towering header to ease pressure on the City goal with five minutes to play.
Joao Cancelo - 7.23: Deputised for Benjamin Mendy at left-back and broke forward well where required. Chanced his luck with a low bouncing shot after cutting on to his right that required a tidy save from Thibaut Courtois 10 minutes before the break.
Kevin De Bruyne - 7.66: Superb in the first half as he looked to follow up his match winning display from the first leg with another big showing. Created five chances in the first half, more than Real Madrid (4). Twice chanced his luck from a corner after spotting Thibaut Courtois away from his front post and ended up creating as many chances as Real Madrid in total (8).
Rodri - 6.66: Marshalled play in the middle of the park. Taken off for Nicolas Otamendi late on. Yielded a 93.6% pass success rate as he did what was required.
Ilkay Gundogan - 7.44: Broke forward well from midfield, completing two dribbles, and ensured Real Madrid struggled to exert their attacking quality as he made two tackles and one interception. A fine all-round midfield display.
Raheem Sterling - 7.84: On hand to score his sixth Champions League goal of the season with a six-yard tap in after Gabriel Jesus had won the ball off Raphael Varane. Had chances to add to his opening goal, mustering four shots, before he was replaced by David Silva.
Phil Foden - 6.35: A surprise inclusion as Pep Guardiola elected to use the 20-year-old as a false nine. Taken off midway through the second half on the back of a subdued display.
Gabriel Jesus - 8.46: Some excellent pressing with 10 minutes on the clock saw the striker rob Raphael Varane of the ball before teeing up Raheem Sterling with a simple finish. Must've thought he'd put Manchester City ahead with 25 minutes to play, but Thibaut Courtois eas equal to his high drive. Wasn't to be denied with 20 minutes to go as he forced Raphael Varane into another error to score his first of the night in a man of the match display.
Subs
Bernardo Silva - 6.65, David Silva - 6.16, Nicolas Otamendi - 5.99
Real Madrid - 6.37
Thibaut Courtois - 6.70: Put Raphael Varane in danger as he tried to play out from the back that put Real Madrid on the backfoot with 10 minutes on the clock. Made a smart save to turn Joao Cancelo's bouncing effort away from goal. Reacted well to ensure he wasn't beaten by a Kevin De Bruyne corner shortly after the restart. Made a stunning save to turn away a Gabriel Jesus shot midway through the second half, only to be beaten by the Brazilian with 20 minutes to play.
Dani Carvajal - 5.89: Beaten too easily by Joao Cancelo when the Portuguese full-back got forward that presented the City man with the chance to go for goal. Made an inch-perfect last-ditch tackle to deny Kevin De Bruyne early in the second half as the City star was ready to pull the trigger.
Raphael Varane - 4.62: Wasn't helped by Thibaut Courtois, but was still robbed of possession too easily by Gabriel Jesus that resulted in Raheem Sterling opening the scoring. Shocking for Manchester City's second as he not once, but twice, misjudged a header to allow Gabriel Jesus in to score.
Eder Militao - 7.47: Deputising for the suspended Sergio Ramos and while Los Blancos looked far from their best at the back, the Brazilian still put in a solid shift.
Ferland Mendy - 6.09: Featuring in place of Marcelo, he provided an attacking outlet down the left but was routinely denied the chance to exhibit his offensive capabilities.
Luka Modric - 6.33: Struggled with the pace of the game in the opening 45 minutes and he didn't improve much after the break. A misplaced pass for Ferland Mendy midway through the second half all but summed up his performance.
Casemiro - 6.09: One of his worst displays of the season as he failed to keep the Manchester City midfield and attack in check. Made just one tackle, a poor return by his standards.
Toni Kroos - 6.57: Failed to dictate the tempo in the middle of the park. May have created two goalscoring chances, but Kroos Control, this was not.
Rodrygo - 7.05: Picked out Karim Benzema excellently with a lofted cross after getting to the byline. Withdrawn on the hour mark.
Karim Benzema - 7.82: Forced Ederson into a smart stop as he looked to draw Real Madrid level before powering a header past the Manchester City goalkeeper to hand Los Blancos a lifeline with half an hour on the clock. Had a couple of half chances and while Real Madrid's best player, he'll be unhappy to have been on the losing side tonight.
Eden Hazard - 6.78: Not at his free flowing best in the opening 45 minutes, but his impressive reading of the game was on show as he made more interceptions (3) than any other player before the break. Brought off with seven minutes to go and was fairly anonymous in the final third.
Subs
Marco Asensio - 5.97, Lucas Vazquez - 5.97, Luka Jovic - 6.16, Federico Valverde - 5.97
