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Vinicius silences Man City as Real Madrid progress to Champions League quarters

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Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior celebrates after scoring the opening goal from the penalty spot against Manchester City's goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma during the Champions League round of 16 second leg soccer match between Manchester City and Real Madrid in Manchester, Tuesday, March 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson) (Dave Thompson/AP)

Manchester City's Champions League journey ended on Tuesday as Real Madrid secured a 2-1 victory at the Etihad Stadium.

A Vinícius Júnior brace ensured Madrid advanced to the quarterfinals with a commanding 5-1 aggregate win.

Despite playing most of the second leg with 10 men, Pep Guardiola's side registered 22 shots on goal as they fought in vain to overturn the 3-0 deficit from last week's loss at the Bernabéu.

City paid the price for the dismissal of captain Bernardo Silva for handling the Vinícius shot that led to his 22nd-minute opener from the penalty spot.

The Brazil star tucked away his penalty to give Madrid a four-goal cushion and applied a close-range finish in second-half stoppage time to secure victory on the night for the record 15-time European champions.

Erling Haaland gave the hosts some hope but Vinicius, after missing several other chances, had the final word.

Kylian Mbappé entered as a second-half substitute to mark his return from nearly a month out injured. Madrid will hope the France striker stays injury-free before a quarterfinal against either Bayern Munich or Atalanta. Bayern leads 6-1 from the first leg.

It was the fourth time in five seasons City had failed to get past the Spanish giants and, after such a spirited effort, they will rue last week's first-half display all the more.

Information from The Associated Press and PA was used in this report.