The rivalry between Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé is gaining momentum, not just because of their current performances but also for the promise of what’s to come. In this instance, the two faced off for the first time in the UEFA Champions League knockout stage, in a thrilling match between Manchester City and Real Madrid, with both superstars finding the back of the net.

Erling Haaland: Opening the Scoring and Completing His Double

Haaland’s first goal came in the 19th minute after a brilliant play with Jack Grealish, who sent a pinpoint pass to Joško Gvardiol. The Croatian controlled the ball with his chest, setting it up perfectly for the Norwegian to strike and open the scoring.

But the Manchester City forward wasn’t done. In the 80th minute, Haaland stepped up to convert a penalty with confidence, restoring the lead for Pep Guardiola’s side and completing his brace. This marked his first and second goals against Real Madrid after having failed to score in four previous encounters.

Kylian Mbappé: The Response and Real Madrid’s Hero

Kylian Mbappé wasn’t about to let his rival dominate for long. In the 60th minute, after a free-kick rebound, Dani Ceballos sent the ball to Mbappé, who, inside the box, performed a slightly unorthodox scissor kick to level the score.

With this goal, Real Madrid’s number 9 reached four goals and one assist in this season’s Champions League, becoming the temporary hero for Carlo Ancelotti’s men.

The Decisive Battle at the Bernabéu

The rivalry between Haaland and Mbappé will continue at the Santiago Bernabéu next week, where Mbappé will look to make the most of his home advantage, while Haaland will aim to silence the Real Madrid crowd and guide Manchester City to the next stage. Who will come out on top?