PEP GUARDIOLA challenged his Manchester City to look Real Madrid in the eye in the Bernabeu.
But like everyone else they were dazzled by an incredible first half hat-trick from home skipper Fede Valverde.
And they ended the night staring down the barrel—on the brink of going out to the Spanish giants for a third straight year.
It was only thanks to a second half penalty save by Gianluigi Donnarumma to keep out Vinicius Jr that they have any chance at all.
But boy do they have a mountain to climb at the Etihad on Tuesday.
Oh and in case it wasn’t steep enough already – there is a decent chance Kylian Mbappe will be back from injury for that one.
Pep and his team will fly back to Manchester this morning feeling well and truly Fede Up – thanks to the Uruguayan’s magnificent display.
This fixture has been nicknamed the ‘European Classico’ as the teams meet for the 16th time in this competition – and all of them since 2012.
Both teams have won five and there have been five draws with just one goal between them – showing how well matched they have been.
With Madrid missing SEVEN first teamers due to injury – including Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo – Pep sensed an opportunity.
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Yet the former Barcelona coach should know better than anyone that you write off the ‘kings’ of Europe at your peril – particularly in this competition.
And his gamble to pick four attackers backfired dramatically in a dream first half for the home team.
He picked both wingers Jeremy Doku and Savinho and was determined to use them with the Belgian seeing plenty of the ball early on.
Former Liverpool defender Trent Alexander Arnold had some huge battles with City over the years and was being properly tested here.
Doku fizzed a couple of balls that zipped across the face of goal with nobody to tap them in.
Yet there was a warning at the other end of what was to come as Vinicius Jr slipped a pass in to former City forward Brahim Diaz whose effort was charged down by Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Skipper Bernardo Silva had just guided an effort wide when Thibaut Courtois found his own captain with the goal-kick.
Valverde left Nico O’Reilly flat-footed and then got there just ahead of Donnarumma who had come charging out of his goal.
The angle was tight but the Uruguayan had the composure to roll it into the empty net to give his team the lead.
It gave the home side – who have come under-fire for their recent performances a huge lift – and seven minutes later they were at it again.
Diaz managed to squeeze a ball down the channel to Valverde who used his left foot this time to shoot across Donnarumma into the far corner.
City knew they had to find a response quickly to stay in the tie and in doing so they left more gaps.
Diaz chipped a ball forward and Valverde lifted the ball over Marc Guehi and then slammed it past the City goalkeeper.
Think Gazza at Euro ’96 – a special goal from a special player.
But for January signing Guehi it was a rude awakening in his first ever Champions League tie.
It had been a disastrous 45 minutes for City. In many ways they hadn’t been THAT bad but it felt like they had played right into Madrid’s hands.
Guardiola must have accepted his gamble had not paid off as at half-time he subbed off Savinho for Tijjani Reijnders.
Yet it could have got worse still for the visitors with Donnarumma being forced into a smart save by Diaz in the opening minutes of the second half.
Courtois was finally forced into action as he saved at his near post to deny Antoine Semenyo a goal on his Champions League debut.
But as the visitors pushed forward they left themselves vulnerable at the back and a long ball over the top saw Vini Jr get in behind them.
Donnarumma tripped him up and it was a clear penalty with the Brazilian dusting himself down to take it.
The Italy international has a good record with spot-kicks and guessed right – diving to his left to save and keep his team in the tie – just.
So much for City hunting for a quadruple over the next few weeks – they were lucky not to be four behind.
Nico O’Reilly – who scored here in December – took advantage of a defensive lapse but his snapshot was saved by the outstretched leg of Courtois.
Pep must have known deep down he needed a goal to take back to England with him.
Yet with 10 minutes to go he took off the ineffective Erling Haaland – it was that kind of night for him and his team.
