City's Guardiola can't explain another late collapse in loss to Real Madrid

MANCHESTER, England : Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola had no explanation for yet another late-game collapse as his team lost 3-2 at home to Real Madrid in the Champions League playoffs on Tuesday to leave their campaign hanging by a thread ahead of the second leg.

Brahim Diaz and Jude Bellingham struck late to erase City's 2-1 lead, the latter netting the winner in the 92nd minute at the Etihad Stadium where the mood swung from joy to despair.

"We arrived at the last minute with a result and we could not keep it," Guardiola told a press conference.

"After 2-1, many games it has happened, against Feyenoord in the Champions League (City led 3-0 in the 74th minute but were held to a 3-3 draw), against Brentford in the Premier League, against Manchester United, many games at the end we give away," he added.

"Unfortunately it has happened so many times, it's difficult."

Erling Haaland's double, including a penalty in the 80th minute, had City poised for a win over the holders and LaLiga pacesetters but leads have proved slippery this season for Guardiola's side, who are fifth in the Premier League.

They have conceded seven goals in the final 15 minutes of Champions League matches this term.

"There was a lot of naivety from Manchester City, especially late in the game," former Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney said in his role as a pundit on Amazon Prime.

"The players tonight were looking round at each other, almost with a lack of belief in each other, and I think that is a worry for Guardiola.

"When you are 2-1 up against Real Madrid with a game coming up at the Bernabeu, you have to say: 'Let's be sensible', let them have the ball in their half, reset."

PLAYERS ACCOUNTABLE

City defender John Stones acknowledged that the