Soccer

KYLIAN MBAPPE gave a nod to two of the greats as he singlehandedly tore apart Manchester City in the Champions League.Mbappe netted a hattrick to send the Cityzens packing from the competition before they could even reach the last 16 proper in a 3-1 win (6-3 on aggregate).Kylian Mbappe scored a hattrick as Real Madrid knocked Man City out of the Champions LeagueCredit: AFPCity lost 6-3 on aggregate to MadridCredit: GettyIt was a performance to remember for Mbappe, who not only channelled his inner Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi with his efforts on the ball, but also with his celebrations.The Frenchman gave a nod to each of the stars as he celebrated his goals at the Santiago Bernabeu.His first goal, a delightful chip over Ederson, saw him recreate Ronaldo’s most recent celebration to the raucous home fans.Ronaldo imitated a chipped ball with his hand after netting against Al Wasl earlier this month.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLAnd Mbappe appeared to do the same thing after looping the ball over Ederson’s head and soaking up the atmosphere with his arms outstretched.He made sure his second goal, a twisting finish into the bottom corner, was all his own – celebrating with his teammates and enjoying a goal that put Madrid well and truly in the driving seat.But his celebration for his hattrick goal was reserved for a tribute to Lionel Messi.After scoring a drilled left-footed effort from the edge of the area, Mbappe counted his three goals out on his fingers – mimicking Lionel Messi’s celebration from back in 2011 against Mallorca.Most read in FootballMbappe celebrated his first goal by mimicking a chipped shot with his handCredit: PACristiano Ronaldo pulled out a similar celebration against Al Wasl earlier this monthCredit: GettyMbappe copied Lionel Messi’s 1-2-3 celebration after his hattrickCredit: GettyMessi used the celebration back in 2011Credit: YouTubeCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSDespite honouring two of the greatest players to ever play the game, Mbappe is very much creating his own legacy at the moment.After his performance on Wednesday night, the 26-year-old now has over 500 career goal contributions.Watch Jude Bellingham’s expletive-laden instructions to Mbappe and Co at half-time of Real Madrid drawDespite his electric display, teammate Jude Bellingham was keen to remind fans that there’s so much more to Madrid that Mbappe.He told TNT Sports: “Kylian is just flying now. But sometimes we need a reminder that talent isn’t enough. “You need organisation, you need commitment and we have worked on that after some bad results recently.”Manager Carlo Ancelotti described the World Cup winner as “fantastic” in his post match interview, while even club legend Zinedine Zidane seemed impressed from the stands.Mbappe’s ode to Ronaldo and Messi should come as no surprise with the star idolising the pair throughout his entire career.He previously said of Ronaldo: “I just want to admire Cristiano’s greatness. “There will be no one like him. He has left a mark on football history.”While he gushed about Messi, despite suffering World Cup final heartbreak at the hands of his Argentina side in 2022.Mbappe, who played with Messi at PSG, said: “Playing with Leo Messi is definitely something I miss a lot. READ MORE SUN STORIES”You always miss not playing with Leo Messi anymore! For an attacker like me, who likes to attack spaces, with him you have the certainty that you can get the ball. “It was a luxury that almost only he can give you. Beyond that, playing with Messi was special.”Mbappe has always spoken highly of RonaldoCredit: AFPHe played alongside Lionel Messi at PSGCredit: Reuters More

JUDE BELLINGHAM has been slapped with another ban on top of his two-game suspension.The Real Madrid star was sent off during Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Osasuna after an X-rated rant at the referee.Jude Bellingham has received another ban after picking up a yellow versus CityCredit: GettyThe Real Madrid star will miss the first leg of their last-16 clashCredit: GettyIt is Bellingham’s second ban after he was controversially sent off in LaLigaCredit: ReutersOfficial Jose Munuera red carded Bellingham for yelling “f*** you” at him.But the English midfielder argues there was a “miscommunication” and boss Carlo Ancelotti claims his player said “f*** off” in frustration.Bellingham was handed a two-match ban from LaLiga games earlier today, meaning he will miss fixtures against Girona and Real Betis.Just hours later, he was in action for Real Madrid as they smashed Manchester City 3-1 in the Champions League via a stunning Kylian Mbappe hat-trick.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLBellingham was booked in the first-half for a foul on Phil Foden and he will now be banned from their next European game.The suspension comes as he has hit the maximum of three yellows after being carded against Brest and Lille earlier in the tournament.It means the 21-year-old will not feature in the first leg of their last-16 clash against either Bayer Leverkuen or bitter rivals Atletico Madrid.Despite the bans, Bellingham will be back on the pitch next Wednesday as Real Madrid face Real Soceidad in the semi-final of the Copa del Rey.Most read in Champions LeagueJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSHis LaLiga suspension does not carry over to the Spanish cup competition.There remains hope he will be back sooner as Real Madrid will reportedly appeal the two-match ban.Inside Jude Bellingham’s new romance with stunning Instagram modelOn the controversial red card, Bellingham said: “It’s clear that it was a mistake and there is a miscommunication. “I remember the incident very well but I’ve also seen the video and the video doesn’t match the report.”I don’t want to go too much in detail about what was said but it’s like a expression like ‘f***’.”I hope that the footage review can show that is not the same as the report and going forward that the federation can keep it under consideration because it’s huge evidence.”Obviously we can’t change the result but I think that going forward there will be a change.”Ancelotti added: “I think the referee did not understand Jude Bellingham’s English. He said f*** off, not f*** you… that’s way different.” More

HOW far and how fast the mighty have fallen. Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, the dominant force in English football and a major European powerhouse for so long, are now not even close.Kylian Mbappe opened the scoring after just four minutes with a clever lofted finishCredit: GettyHe then sat down Josko Gvardiol for the secondCredit: PATNT Sport commentator Darren Fletcher said Gvardiol would ‘need a ticket to get back in the stadium’Credit: ReutersMbappe then completed his hat-trick as the holders progressedCredit: GettyWhenever they travel away to face an elite team, City are being hammered – at Liverpool, where the 2-0 scoreline flattered them immensely, at Arsenal where they were trounced 5-1. They were soundly beaten at Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain too. And here in the Bernabeu tonight, they were taunted, tormented, toyed with and ultimately humiliated – the mocking ‘oles!’ of Real Madrid’s supporters ringing in their ears as Carlo Ancelotti’s men ran rings around them. On the eve of this match, Guardiola claimed he had been joking when he said City had only a ‘one per cent chance’ of overturning their 3-2 first-leg deficit. READ MORE IN FOOTBALLWell, within four minutes, those odds looked spot-on, after Kylian Mbappe had lobbed Ederson on his way to a high-class hat-trick.  This was billed as the latest installment in an epic rivalry, played out annually in the Champions League knock-out stages. It was talked up as a bitter grudge match, especially after Real had boycotted Rodri’s coronation as winner of the Ballon d’Or – and City had responded with a vast banner of their injured midfielder kissing his golden ball before last week’s first leg. But it was no epic. There was no need for any needle. It was a mismatch, a total eclipse of the Blue Moon.  Most read in Champions LeagueJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSAnd so City have failed to reach the last-16 of the Champions League for the first time in 12 years. Their only hope of silverware this season is in the FA Cup, where a fifth-round home tie against Plymouth no longer looks like a gimme.  Erling Haaland’s salary is only ninth biggest in football with Chelsea flop Koulibaly earning more than Man City starThey may have improved since a horrific run of one win and nine defeats in 13 games before Christmas but, despite a £175million January transfer-window trolley-dash, there have been no quick fixes.   The winner of this annual tie has gone on to be crowned champions of Europe in each of the past three seasons. And you wouldn’t bet against Real continuing that trend after witnessing this evisceration.   Erling Haaland was only deemed fit enough to start on the bench after jarring his knee in the 4-0 hammering of Newcastle – the first time he hadn’t started a Champions League or Premier League game this season. But Omar Marmoush was bang in form, having bagged a hat-trick on Saturday.Kevin De Bruyne was benched, testimony to the Belgian’s waning powers, rather than the old chestnut about Guardiola ‘over-thinking’ his team selections in the Champions League knock-out stages. The scratches on the City manager’s head have made the workings of his hyperactive mind all too apparent.   After City had taunted Real with that Rodri banner before last week’s first leg, there was no tit-for-tat tifo spat. A rumoured banner which warned City ‘You Won’t Get Out Alive’ failed to materialise. But, in footballing terms, it would have been spot-on.The Madridistas kept it simple, belting out their anthem and creating a wall of sound beneath the roof of the full-refurbished Bernabeu. Then it was over to their team – who took only four minutes to double their aggregate lead. Raul Asencio played a diagonal ball over the top and Mbappe sprinted clear of Ruben Dias, with John Stones failing to make a challenge before the Real striker lobbed a stranded Ederson – a goal which was as simple as it was clinical. For the second time in five minutes of football during this tie, City’s Brazilian keeper had been stuck in no man’s land for a Real goal – after Jude Bellingham’s injury-time winner at the Etihad. Mbappe started whipping up the crowd and almost instantly it was worse for City when Stones was forced to limp off, replaced by Nathan Ake. It was shaping up like an old-school 4-4-2 for City with Savinho up top alongside Marmoush. Guardiola’s back-to-basics approach never looked remotely like working. The idea of playing the rookie Abdukodir Khusanov at right-back against Vinicius Junior was certainly a bold call – Vini and Bellingham seemed to be taking it turns to tease the young Uzbek.   Ilkay Gundogan, one of several City players to have lost a yard of pace, was booked for just that reason, as he tripped Rodrygo. City only hope of silverware now comes in the FA CupCredit: GettyIt was quiet in the cauldron. Real were in cruise control. This didn’t possess the jeopardy of many recent meetings.  But then the fab four decided to turn it on – Real’s famous attacking quartet combining for the killer second. Bellingham kicked it off with a wicked turn and pass for Vinicius. His pass was under-hit, yet Rodrygo was still able to tee up Mbappe.The Frenchman looked crowded by City defenders, yet one swivel sent Gvardiol for an early half-time Bovril and he drilled past Ederson. This was the sort of high-quality team goal City would so often inflict on opponents in their pomp, yet here they were on the receiving end. Real continued to strut their stuff and Mbappe’s hat-trick goal arrived on the hour. Ancelotti’s men were stroking it around imperiously before their centre-forward cut inside Phil Foden and whipped a shot low into the far corner. After 76 minutes, Foden produced City’s first shot on target, which Courtois comfortably saved. In injury-time, feeble City finally mustered a response – Nico Gonzalez tapping home after a Marmoush free-kick had come back off the bar. READ MORE SUN STORIESBy then, Mbappe was then long since been withdrawn, to a thunderous reception, afforded a nice little breather. City couldn’t touch him. They weren’t even close.Pep Guardiola watched his side not even lay a glove on RealCredit: Rex More