Kylian Mbappe was in irresistable form during Real Madrid's win over Manchester City and left Rio Ferdinand purring in admiration.
The French superstar delivered a devastating hat-trick at the Bernabeu to knock Manchester City out of the Champions League. Pep Guardiola's side trailed 3-2 heading into the clash but could not find a way back as the 26-year-old tore the City defence to shreds to secure a 6-3 win on aggregate and progression to the last-16.
Erling Haaland was only fit enough for a place on the bench as Mbappe claimed all of the headlines thanks to his classy finishes. The Los Blancos star first unleashed an accomplished lob over Ederson after Ruben Dias misjudged a header.
Mbappe then forced the error for Real's second strike. Picking up the ball from City's defence, the ex-PSG ace left Josko Gvardiol clambering across the turf as he cut in, before scoring and then pointing at his fallen adversary.
Ferdinand could scarcely contain his delight. The ex-Manchester United defender could only applaud what he had witnessed on TNT Sports: "Mbappe, that is wonderful, devastating.
"He has absolutely laid the defender down on the floor and said, 'sit down there and watch me slot this home'. This goal is all about Kylian Mbappe.
"He laid him out. He might as well have got him a pillow to lie on there."
Mbappe, who has now bagged 27 goals this season since joining Los Blancos, revealed following the game that he had now settle at his new club. "The adaptation period for me has ended and now I have to show my quality," he said.
"I want to play well here, I want to make a mark on the season. We wanted to win. We wanted to qualify for the next round. For us it was only logical that Real reached the next round of the Champions League."
Such was the home side's form, Ferdinand believes that Man City could almost gave up to superior opposition. "It's the first time I've seen a Man City team led by Pep Guardiola almost tapping out, looking for the final whistle," he told TNT Sports.
"That's testament to what they've produced over his tenure, they've been magnificent since he's come through the door. But this season there have been many moments where you think that isn't the identity of a Pep Guardiola Man City team and tonight was an example of that.
"You can't take anything away from Real Madrid, I think that they're a formidable team, clicking into gear and are in a moment where City are lacking any kind of confidence."