For so long Manchester City have been the kings of the Champions League but this season, it has been a different story.

For the second successive season, City were unable to get revenge on rivals Real Madrid. They were close to taking the tie to the second leg in Madrid next week but defensive errors cost them the victory on Tuesday night.

Jude Bellingham netted late in stoppage time after Rico Lewis missed a late interception and Vinicius Jr poked it through for the England international. City will need to show a much improved performance at the Bernabeu as their European campaign currently hangs by a thread.

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READ MORE: Jude Bellingham fires seven-word Man City verdict after Real Madrid cause late collapse

Here, MEN Sport has taken a look at how the Spanish media reported on events at the Etihad Stadium.

Marca - The best Madrid stuns Europe

Jose Maria Rodriguez wrote: "It had to be like this. The best Real Madrid of the season was five minutes away from coming away without a win against a formidable opponent. Two goals from Erling Haaland meant that Madrid had to climb a tremendous uphill but a goal from Brahim [Diaz] and another from Jude Bellingham in the 92nd minute sealed the comeback in their 300th victory in Europe.

"Another memorable night for the collection. In one of the most complicated scenarios on the continent, Real Madrid showed the face of the European champion, a team capable of overcoming key absences to offer the best football of the season. From the first minute, they played a cheerful, fast, fresh game, and put aggressive pressure to make it difficult for City. How many rivals have they dispatched by playing worse and beating them?

"But not everything was written. Carlo Ancelotti's late changes were a blessing. After 97 minutes, Bellingham produced the perfect comeback, that of the European champion against their biggest opponent of recent years. This is Real Madrid."

AS

Luis Nieto penned: "It could have been a different story but Bellingham sealed the win in stoppage time. Madrid defeated a Pep Guardiola team which had not been seen before. City lacked a lot and Ederson had a bad night despite compensating his mistakes from the beginning. Rodrygo and Vinicius were unstoppable while Kylian Mbappe made life difficult for the City defence. The best Bellingham appeared after the break but even the minimum victory in stoppage time, after twenty shots, seemed like a small thing.

"The start of the white team was spectacular. Ederson made a foul in the box but the penalty was ruled out for an offside in the build up. Guardiola, like Ancelotti, played with four defenders, and a fifth, with John Stones ahead, as a pivot instead of Mateo Kovacic. With Gvardiol at left back, as a second midfielder where he dominated the team; with De Bruyne as a midfielder, despite his state of form, at the cost of leaving Foden on the bench (that was a surprise), they were also without any of the signings that arrived in January.

"Everyone, except Savinho, was already in the squad that last year said goodbye to the competition in quarter finals, and players like Ederson, Ruben Dias, Ake and Stones had just come out of injuries. The white team had been better before and would be better after when Vinicius hit the crossbar. City suffered extraordinarily against a much superior opponent, despite their attempts to nullify Madrid. Their position in the Premier League is not deceiving."

Mundo Deportivo - Many defenders, little defending

Javier Alfaro continued: "Manchester City is far from the level shown in recent years to be considered the best team in the world. The main problem, although not the only one, is that they defend much worse than in previous seasons. In this Tuesday's match against Real Madrid, they were vulnerable, at the expense of the success of the attackers of the white team, and were unable to get ahead twice on the scoreboard.

"Nothing more and nothing less than five defenders appeared in the starting eleven although not all of them acted like they were doing that role. In other words, City played with many defenders but did not defend well at all. And failing to do that against Real Madrid usually ends in defeat. If they want to turn the tie around at the Santiago Bernabeu, Guardiola's team needs to be more clinical in front of goal but if they don't improve defensively, they won't get far."

SPORT - Are Man City making Pep Guardiola's bed?

Iker Lloveras concluded: "Guardiola is lost. Last night, after losing the game in the final five minutes after two monumental errors from his players, he seemed to resign himself. He no longer scratches his head, because unfortunately he is too used to seeing the same outcome. "Many times it [has happened] this season," Guardiola said. "I know the the quality of Real Madrid. We took the game in the second half and tried to attack too quick. It happens because they are an exceptional team.

"It happens many times this season. Bad decisions, that’s all. I take it. It’s not about you and me, it’s everyone." Against Real Madrid, City conceded 20 shots, the highest number it has conceded to a visiting team in a match at the Etihad since the arrival of Guardiola. According to data from 'Opta', the white team had a record of expected goals of 3.42, while the locals scored two goals with just 1.6. The game could have ended with a much more bulky victory for Ancelotti's team, who wasted very clear goal opportunities.

"It seems that the players are making Pep's bed, or at least it gives the feeling that the dressing room no longer has enough strength to overcome this poor run of form and continue winning as they have done so far. Before losing to Real Madrid, Guardiola warned of his position on a possible exit: "Because of the relationship we have, I will be the one who decides this myself. That's what I think, but maybe tomorrow they'll throw me out on the street. I don't know." He deserves to leave City whenever he wants."