India, Feb. 20 -- Kylian Mbappe's remarkable hat-trick against Manchester City highlighted his extraordinary attributes: speed, spatial awareness, and technical prowess. The first goal originated from the centre, the second from the left flank, and the third from the right side. The initial two strikes were executed with his right foot, while the final one was delivered with his left. Mbappe effortlessly exchanged positions with Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo, dominating the attacking third as if he were its sovereign.

He proved to be too swift for Nathan Ake, too skilled for Josko Gvardiol, too powerful for John Stones, and too elusive for Ruben Dias. If the opening goal felt like a sudden blow, the subsequent two goals effectively drained any remaining resolve from City. Mbappe now boasts three Champions League hat-tricks, two of which occurred in the knockout stages, akin to legends such as Lionel Messi, Karim Benzema, and Robert Lewandowski. Could this be the season he secures the title for the first time?

Following the 1-3 defeat that resulted in a 3-6 aggregate loss in this playoff encounter, Pep Guardiola acknowledged that City were not performing at the level of the team that had reached two Champions League finals, winning one of them.

This statement seemed to reflect a quintessential English understatement. For the majority of Wednesday night at Santiago Bernabeu, City appeared more as facilitators for Real than as genuine competitors, akin to the Washington Generals facing the Harlem Globetrotters, merely present because they had no other option. Nico Gonzalez did manage to score a goal in injury time, but his action of tugging at Vinicius Jr's shorts underscored the disparity between the two teams.

Real displayed a vigorous approach in both attack and defence, with Antonio Rudiger and Raul Asencio celebrating a crucial block through enthusiastic chest bumps. Federico Valverde tirelessly advanced down the right flank, demonstrating remarkable adaptability as a makeshift right-back. Meanwhile, City retreated, allowing Mbappe to secure his hat trick in the 61st minute after deftly evading Phil Foden. Nearly half an hour into the match, Thibaut Courtois could have been an unseen spectator, so little was he tested. "This was a perfect night. We won because we produced a great performance," Mbappe remarked.

Mbappe initiated the scoring by perfectly timing his run to connect with Asencio's long pass. This moment epitomized City's decline, as Dias stumbled, Stones failed to intercept Mbappe, and Ederson ventured too far from his goal. Observing Ederson's position, Mbappe skillfully adjusted his trajectory to lob the ball into the net, putting Real ahead 4-2 on aggregate just four minutes into the match, despite City's dominance in possession.

The speed of Mbappe's game adds an exhilarating dimension. His remarkable pace was evident when he sliced through Argentina in 2018, reaching a top speed of 37 km/h, and again four years later, as he glided past Poland's Przemyslaw Frankowski, astonishing spectators at Al Thumama Stadium with a speed of 35 km/h.

An analysis by The Athletic highlighted this aspect of Mbappe's play, with experts noting his extended stride length. The article emphasized his ability to accelerate when opponents are at a disadvantage and how, under Mauricio Pochettino at Paris St-Germain, he has mastered the art of deceleration as he approaches the goal. This skill allows Mbappe to remain composed, wait for his teammates, and quickly change direction.

This composure was evident in his second goal, where he left Gvardiol off-balance with a swift turn before scoring in the 33rd minute. Following a free kick awarded for a foul by Guardiola, Real expertly transitioned the ball from right to left and back again, culminating in a combination play involving Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Jr, and Rodrygo, which set up Mbappe. Rodrygo's deft touch eliminated Abdukodir Khusanov, allowing Mbappe to manoeuvre and find the back of the net.

Allowing Mbappe to advance against the central defenders with passes delivered behind Manchester City's high defensive line was a strategic manoeuvre by Real Madrid, which nearly succeeded again when Aurelien Tchouameni delivered a pass that put Dias in a difficult position, forcing Ederson to make a save. However, Real Madrid also demonstrated their ability to execute a fluid series of passes reminiscent of Guardiola's Barcelona.

"Mbappe is an exceptional player," remarked Carlo Ancelotti. "When Rodrygo, Bellingham, and Vinicius Jr. manage to link up effectively, we become extremely dangerous," the Real manager stated. This is well-known, yet it appeared too straightforward for the reigning champions. It is likely that Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen, potential opponents for Real in the round of 16, will present a more formidable challenge.

Moreover, this match illustrated how far Mbappe has progressed from his initial struggles. This was not the player who had been contained by Connor Bradley, missed penalties, and averaged a goal every 136.5 minutes for Real, while also being excluded from the French national team. With 18 goals in his last 18 matches, he has established himself as a forward of the highest calibre, equally adept as a central striker or on the wings. According to Opta, Mbappe has accumulated 501 goal contributions (359 goals, 142 assists), and at the age of 26, he appears poised to continue the legacy of legends like Ronaldo and Karim Benzema at this prestigious club.

"I aspire to define an era," Mbappe stated following the match. History may well regard this playoff encounter as the moment it all began.

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