Real Madrid reach Champions League quarter-finals

March 18, 2026 / 11:04 AM

Sharjah24: Real Madrid secured their place in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals with a 2–1 victory over Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, with no major surprises in the outcome. The Spanish giants, record holders with 15 titles, advanced at the expense of their hosts, who were reduced to ten men during the match.

Strong position heading into next round

Los Blancos entered the match in a strong position to qualify and are now expected to face Bayern Munich, who hold a commanding advantage over Atalanta following a 6–1 away win in the first leg, with the return leg scheduled for Wednesday.

Vinícius opens the scoring

Unlike the first leg, where Real Madrid missed chances to extend their lead, Brazilian forward Vinícius Júnior converted a penalty in the 22nd minute. The spot-kick was awarded after Bernardo Silva handled the ball inside the box, resulting in his dismissal following a VAR review.

Cityresponddespite numerical disadvantage

Despite being a man down, Manchester City regained composure andequalisedthrough Erling Haaland. The goal came in the 41st minute after a short corner routine involving Tijjani Reijnders and Jérémy Doku, with Haaland netting his 57th goal in just 58 Champions League appearances.

Late winner seals qualification

The match remained level until stoppage time, when Vinícius Júnior struck again, finishing off a pass from AurélienTchouaménito secure the win and confirm Real Madrid’s progression to the quarter-finals.