Man City come from behind to beat Real Madrid in the Champions League | OneFootball

Manchester City came from behind to beat Real Madrid in the Champions League.

Rodrygo opened the scoring at the Bernabeau, slotting past Gianluigi Donnarumma from a tight angle.

But Nico O’Reilly continued his fine season by tapping in from close range to equalise.

Erling Haaland then put the visitors in front from the penalty spot after being fouled by Antonio Rudiger.

It is the fifth successive season in which the two sides have met in the Champions League, although tonight was their first clash in the league phase. It was also the first managerial meeting between Pep Guardiola and his former player Xabi Alonso. The latter will only face further scrutiny on his already under threat position following tonight’s defeat.

After a high billing, the game kicked off at a breakneck speed and the action was frantic from the very start. In just the second minute, Matheus Nunes swiped the legs of Vinicius Junior and the referee pointed to the spot with no hesitation. Fortunately for Guardiola’s side, the foul took place just outside the penalty area and VAR intervened to instead award a free-kick. An early let off for City and their captain Bernardo Silva, who was guilty of giving up possession cheaply.

The hosts were intent on earning a big result, following their poor form and with their manager’s position under threat. Five minutes later Madrid again went close, with Vinicius dinking just wide over the onrushing Donnarumma.

Rodrygo has suffered more than most during Alonso’s tenure, starting just four matches before tonight. Despite this, it was him who potentially offered his boss a lifeline. The Brazilian put the hosts ahead in the 28th minute, with a strike exquisitely guided into the bottom corner. With his first goal of the season, the out of favour forward might just have saved his manager’s job.

However, the visitors did not stay behind for long. O’Reilly tapped home from a corner to level with his first ever goal in the competition but Thibaut Courtois could perhaps have dealt better with Josko Gvardiol’s initial effort.

Madrid soon offered City another gift. Ruddier bundled down Haaland, who had taken just three touches up to this point, in the penalty area. After the referee ignored the challenge, VAR intervened and the Norwegian duly stepped up and converted the spot kick.

Despite creating almost nothing in the first half, Guardiola’s side found themselves ahead. Their lead could have been increased in injury time too. The visitors broke forward and O’Reilly picked out Haaland brilliantly. Courtois perhaps redeemed his earlier error, producing a fine double save to deny first Haaland and then Rayan Cherki.

It was a thoroughly entertaining half for neutrals, but the local supporters were less impressed. Whistles of discontent rang out from the home crowd as the players headed down the tunnel.

These frustrations would only grow after the break. If City had previously been fortunate to be leading, that was not the case in the second half. Courtois was called into action to deny Cherki, Haaland and Jeremy Doku, who all went close to extending the visitors advantage.

City’s superiority only ended when Guardiola turned to his bench and made a surprising triple substitution. Phil Foden, Cherki and Haaland were all withdrawn with 20 minutes still remaining.

With an air of desperation, Madrid searched for an equaliser in the closing stages. Bellingham lifted one over the crossbar earlier in the half, but the pick of the chances fell to Vinicius. The Brazilian headed wide from just yards out. Moments later, with Donnarumma out of position, he blasted a wild volley over.

Substitute Endrick was then denied by the woodwork in the final minutes. His header crashed against the wrong side of the crossbar. The hosts never relented but the equaliser never arrived. Reports in the build-up suggested that defeat tonight would lose Alonso his job, their authenticity will soon be revealed.

For Guardiola’s side it is a statement victory and their first at the Bernabeu in more than half a decade.