Kylian Mbappe wasted no time in revealing his preferred opponent for Real Madrid’s next Champions League showdown following his spectacular performance against Manchester City.
Mbappe’s stunning hat-trick powered Real Madrid past the reigning champions, securing a spot in the last 16. After a hard-fought 3-2 victory at the Etihad Stadium, Real dominated at the Bernabeu, eliminating Pep Guardiola’s side in emphatic fashion.
With a knockout round clash looming against either Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen, some Real Madrid fans may hope to avoid their city rivals. But for Mbappe, a showdown with Diego Simeone’s men is the ideal matchup.
Atletico Madrid have been impressive this season, currently sitting third in La Liga, just a point behind joint leaders Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Leverkusen, on the other hand, have been a force in Germany, finishing in the top-eight of the revamped Champions League group phase and mounting a serious Bundesliga title challenge.
Fresh off being named Player of the Match, Mbappe didn’t hold back when asked about his preferred opponent. “Honestly, I would rather we are drawn against Atleti,” he admitted.
“They and Bayern are two great clubs, and either match would be difficult. But in the next round, it would be much better for us if we don’t have to travel we travel so much! Bayer Leverkusen or Atleti? Both are tough, but I prefer Atleti so we save ourselves a trip.”
Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti, however, refused to be drawn into the debate. “I don’t know,” he said when asked about his preference. “Honestly, I don’t know. Who I want tonight could change tomorrow.”
Mbappe was electric on the night, settling any early nerves with a clinical lob over Ederson just five minutes in. He doubled Madrid’s lead in the 33rd minute with a superb finish before completing his hat-trick after the break, leaving no doubt about his impact on the game.
Jude Bellingham, who played a key role in Madrid’s midfield, emphasized the importance of the team’s defensive work. “It was a really enjoyable game to play in,” he told TNT Sports.
“The most important thing for us was the defensive side. We knew that once we controlled that, we could attack with more freedom.”
When asked about playing alongside Mbappe, Bellingham couldn’t hide his admiration. “It is brilliant playing with him. You know that when he gets the ball in his favorite areas, he is going to be dangerous left foot or right foot. He scored all types of goals today.
“It’s incredible what he has done in his career. I know he had a slow start here, but now he is flying, and it’s so good to see.”
With Madrid’s dominant victory, all eyes now turn to the Champions League draw, where Mbappe’s wish for a blockbuster Madrid derby could become reality.