Vini Jr. silences Man City as Real Madrid seal progress


Manchester City's Champions League journey ended on Tuesday as Real Madrid secured a 2-1 victory at the Etihad Stadium.

A Vinícius Júnior brace ensured Madrid advanced to the quarterfinals with a commanding 5-1 aggregate win.

Despite playing most of the second leg with 10 men, Pep Guardiola's side registered 22 shots on goal as they fought in vain to overturn the 3-0 deficit from last week's loss at the Bernabéu.

City paid the price for the dismissal of captain Bernardo Silva for handling the Vinícius shot that led to his 22nd-minute opener from the penalty spot.

Vinicius Junior celebrates after scoring Real Madrid's first goal against Manchester City during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Round of 16.
Vinicius Junior celebrates after scoring Real Madrid's first goal against Manchester City during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Round of 16.
Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images

The Brazil star tucked away his penalty to give Madrid a four-goal cushion and applied a close-range finish in second-half stoppage time to secure victory on the night for the record 15-time European champions.

Erling Haaland gave the hosts some hope but Vinicius, after missing several other chances, had the final word.

Kylian Mbappé entered as a second-half substitute to mark his return from nearly a month out injured. Madrid will hope the France striker stays injury-free before a quarterfinal against either Bayern Munich or Atalanta. Bayern leads 6-1 from the first leg.

It was the fourth time in five seasons City had failed to get past the Spanish giants and, after such a spirited effort, they will rue last week's first-half display all the more.

Information from The Associated Press and PA.