Kyle Walker fails to prevent Rodrygo from giving Real Madrid the lead in crunch Champions League showdown as he returns to Man City side after welcoming his fourth child with wife Annie Kilner

After a tepid start to the match, Kyle Walker was left on the ground as Rodryo put Real Madrid ahead against Manchester City in the Champions League quarter-finals.

Walker returned to captaincy after the birth of his fourth son this weekend, but played Federico Valverde onside and could not stop the cross to Rodrygo, who scored despite Ederson’s best efforts.

City were hoping to fulfill their ambitions of winning a second successive Treble after their success last year in a match dubbed ‘the champions versus the kings’, going into the match as favorites after a 3-3 draw in the first leg .

Kevin De Bruyne scored the chance with eight minutes on the clock in the first half, but his low, Erling Haaland-bound cross was collected by Andriy Lunin in the Madrid goal, and Haaland hit the crossbar not long after the opening goal.

Walker, 33, was in doubt after he celebrated his son’s arrival alongside wife Annie Kilner last weekend, but he returned to lead his side in a repeat of last year’s semi-final tie.

Walker returned to the Manchester City team to captain the side after celebrating the arrival of his son with his wife Annie Kilner

Jude Bellingham, meanwhile, returned to his homeland to try to help Spanish side Madrid progress in the competition

A friend said the past few months have been a ‘devastating’ and ‘difficult’ time for Annie, who discovered in December – while pregnant – that husband Kyle had fathered a second child with Instagram influencer Lauryn Goodman.

Rio Ferdinand, working as a pundit for TNT Sports, welcomed Walker’s return and insisted he could help his side and try to ‘get into a race with everyone’, with the full-back’s pace a big part of his game and trump for his side.

Steve McManaman, meanwhile, said of Walker’s efforts for Rodrygo’s goal: ‘Great save from Ederson but to no avail. Jude is fine, terrible touch, but beautiful play. Kyle Walker plays Vinicius onside, that’s okay. Ederson was unlucky, Rodrigo had to stand on his toes for a tap. Akanji didn’t see Wallker behind him.’

There were three changes to the side from the first leg, with Ederson starting in goal again and Kevin De Bruyne returning from illness to help his side progress.

For Madrid, all eyes were on Jude Bellingham as the England star returned to his homeland to try and upset Pep Guardiola’s side in their bid to win another Treble.

In the first leg, England star Phil Foden got on the scoresheet with another fine finish in the first leg, with Bernardo Silva and Josko Gvardiol also scoring for City.

England star Phil Foden hoped to continue his great form heading into the match in Manchester

The midfielder remained tight-lipped when asked if he could have joined City instead of Madrid this summer. He said it was “up to me as a new member of the team” to help avenge last season’s 4-0 defeat. City shouted ‘Hey Jude’ across the ground before kick-off, before belting out the Champions League anthem after previously being charged by UEFA.

City manager Guardiola said his side will have to be ‘close to our best, otherwise it will be more difficult’ as he prepares to battle Carlo Ancelotti.

More to follow.