Manchester City and Pep Guardiola given 'rude awakening' in Real Madrid defeat but Gianluigi Donnarumma insists tie is not over

React to this story

Manchester City have work to do next week after falling to a 3-0 defeat away to Real Madrid in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League last-16 tie. Federico Valverde's superb first-half hat-trick gave Los Blancos an impressive victory and TNT Sports' Joe Hart claimed Pep Guardiola was given a "rude awakening." But City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma has not given up hope yet.

Hart: Guardiola smelt blood but got a rude awakening

Video credit: TNT Sports

Joe Hart said Pep Guardiola got a "rude awakening" in Manchester City's 3-0 UEFA Champions League last 16 first leg defeat against Real Madrid on Wednesday night.

City were considered the favourites heading into their latest knockout meeting with Los Blancos, but a stunning first-half hat-trick from Federico Valverde put the hosts in control.

Real Madrid were missing several key players, including Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo and Eder Militao.

Transfers

Vinicius decision 'imminent', Barcola's Liverpool contract 'agreed' - Euro Transfer News

an hour ago

But former City goalkeeper Hart suggested City may have been too bold in their approach against their seemingly depleted opposition.

"Manchester City played like they were decimated with injuries tonight," Hart said on TNT Sports. "People playing out of position, people kind of forced in. They have got so many options in every position.

"I think Pep smelt blood tonight. People make mistakes, of course they do. I think he wanted to load up heavy and put the tie to bed, but he got a rude awakening tonight."

Highlights: Valverde first-half hat-trick rocks Man City

Video credit: TNT Sports

The result might have been worse for City had Vinicius Junior converted a second-half penalty after he was brought down in the box by Gianluigi Donnarumma.

But the Italian made amends, diving to his left to save Vinicius' tame effort.

And Hart revealed a brief exchange he had with Donnarumma after the full-time whistle.

"Donnarumma whispered in my ear after the game, 'This tie isn't over'. And he stepped up for his team," Hart said.

"4-0 is a terrible, terrible scoreline, something you can't come back from, but keeping it at 3-0, massive."

Vinicius Jnr has penalty saved by Donnarumma in potentially 'big moment'

Video credit: TNT Sports

Reflecting further on City's performance, Hart added: "It wasn’t through lack of effort. It never happens with a Manchester City team. It just looked like tactically they got it a little bit wrong tonight.

"But who are we to question Pep Guardiola? He’s had a bad night, no getting away from it. But it's something that he can rediscover, he’ll learn from it, they’ll move on and they’ve got a really good chance, I think, if they score early at the Etihad."

Guardiola himself claimed City were better than the scoreline suggested.

"I had a feeling it was a good game," he told TNT Sports. "Of course, Madrid have the ability and the quality. Every time you lose the ball in transitions they keep the ball and after they run, they can always do that.

"But I had a feeling that it was better than the result said. But the result is here, and we have one week and in the Etihad we will see."

While City maintain hope of a comeback next week, all the plaudits were for Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.

Ex-Real winger Steve McManaman emphasised the magnitude of the display given the circumstances.

"They had three 18-year-olds on the pitch tonight, so that can't be scoffed at," he said on TNT Sports. "This was a hell of a performance. Wow, wow, wow.

"I think everybody to a person in this stadium will agree, that is some performance, one of the best, because of the personnel they had tonight."

Stream the Premier League, Men’s and Women’s FA Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League and more on TNT Sports and discovery+

Transfers