Man City's 'diabolical' defending vs Madrid blasted after Donnarumma disaster

CommentsSportKieran King Football Writer20:33, 11 Mar 2026Updated 20:55, 11 Mar 2026Ally McCoist ripped apart Gianluigi Donnarumma after the Manchester City goalkeeper made a costly error leading to Real Madrid's opening goal at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Despite making a positive start to the Champions League last 16 first leg tie, it was Real who took the lead in the 20th minute.

Thibaut Courtois long pass caused all sorts of trouble for the City back-line and Valverde managed to get in behind before prodding the ball past Donnarumma and slotting into an empty net.

Donnarumma had made the decision to storm out of his goal and attempt to win the ball, but Valverde got there first and kept his composure, scoring from a tight angle and giving Real the lead.

From allowing Valverde to get in behind to Donnarumma flying out his goal and getting beaten, it's goal that City are no doubt going to be frustrated about conceding.

FOLLOW OUR MAN CITY FB PAGE! Latest news and analysis via the MEN’s Manchester City Facebook page

Ex-Rangers forward McCoist pulled no punches on the defending leading to Valverde's first goal, saying it was "diabolical" from City's perspective.

McCoist said on TNT Sports: "The ball's out of this world, so's the finish, just touches it round Donnarumma. Does he kind of just pull his left arm away?! It's a beautiful touch (from Valverde) to take him away from O'Reilly, knocks it round him, goes the other way...

"Diabolical goal to lose defensively, you cannot lose goals at any level, never mind this level, from a goalkeeper's punt up the park to a wide area, two touches and the ball's in the back of the net."

Former City goalkeeper Joe Hart provided a much more balanced look, meanwhile, and appeared to defend Donnarumma, who did pull his arms and legs back to avoid making contact with Valverde and giving a potential penalty - or even a red card - away.

Hart said on TNT Sports: "Just as we see it guys, unbelievable touch from Fede Valverde, but what I am seeing there is that because Donnarumma is committed, coming at pace, he is thinking he might slide tackle outside the box. And as it goes past him, he makes the calculated decision to think, 'I don't need to be giving a penalty away and a potential red card here, so I'll sacrifice the goal.'

"When he looks back he'll know he can use his hands, but with the way he is attacking that ball he's thinking, 'tackle, tackle, tackle' and he hasn't realised that his hands are actually inside the box."

That goal seemed to rock City as Real pounced and made it 2-0 in the 27th minute. Valverde netted his second of the game as he ran on to a threaded pass from Vinicius Jr before firing a low left-footed shot past Donnarumma.

Things then went from bad to worse for City as Real scored a third before half-time. It was that man Valverde again who completed his hat-trick, as the Uruguayan clipped the ball over Marc Guehi's head inside the box before burying a shot beyond Donnarumma to make it 3-0.