Manchester City have made a habit of losing control in recent weeks and they were at it again in the Champions League last night.
They led twice against Real Madrid but left with nothing, undone once again by their inability to see a big game through.
This was the fifth time this season that City have thrown away a lead, and this one might be the most damaging of all.
It started with a taunt. A giant banner from the home fans mocked Vinicius Junior and Madrid for their outrage over Rodri winning the Ballon d’Or.
It ended with Madrid doing what they do best – ripping the game away at the death.
City’s nerves were visible as the game wore on. After Brahim Diaz equalised in the 86th minute, they looked paralysed, unable to clear their heads.
When Jude Bellingham turned in Vinicius Junior’s chipped pass in stoppage time, it felt inevitable.
It was the latest example of City’s growing fragility. In their last five Champions League games, they have conceded eight goals in the final 16 minutes. This is not just a pattern – it is a crisis.
Pep Guardiola’s side have long been renowned for their control, their ability to suffocate games and deny opponents hope. That aura is fading.
Injuries have played their part. Rodri, whose influence in midfield is unmatched, was only fit enough to watch from the stands.
Jack Grealish, making a rare start, lasted 30 minutes before limping off. Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva, two of City’s most trusted lieutenants, looked sluggish.
The cracks in Guardiola’s team are becoming harder to ignore. Their once-imperious defence now looks vulnerable, their energy sapped.
Ederson, usually a pillar of calm, was erratic in goal. His decision to rush out for Vinicius’ cross allowed Bellingham to win the game.
Madrid knew City were there for the taking. By the time the equaliser came, the visitors had missed several chances, dictating the game as City retreated further.
When the final blow landed, it felt like a familiar script.
Guardiola cut a frustrated figure. He admitted his team were ‘not stable enough’ and took responsibility for their late collapse.
“It has happened too many times,” he said. He is right, and that is the problem.
City now face an uphill battle at the Bernabeu, a stadium where hope goes to die. Comebacks happen there, but usually for the men in white.
Guardiola has pulled off miracles before, but City look more like a team at the end of a cycle rather than one capable of another great escape.
