Manchester City clawed their way to a superb Champions League triumph in Madrid, overturning an early deficit and intensifying the scrutiny on Real manager Xabi Alonso. The home side, already under pressure after domestic struggles and reported dressing-room tensions, could not sustain their initial momentum at the Bernabeu.
Real’s top scorer, Kylian Mbappé, was restricted to the bench after fitness concerns and did not feature, leaving his teammates to navigate a tense evening. The match nearly began disastrously for City when Matheus Nunes fouled Vinícius Jr. inside two minutes, though VAR downgraded the incident to a free kick. Federico Valverde’s strike from the set piece veered just wide, and Vinícius later flicked another chance past the far post.
The hosts capitalized on their bright start when Rodrygo smashed in Jude Bellingham’s long diagonal pass to end his long scoring drought. Yet City required only minutes to respond. Teenage full-back Nico O’Reilly nudged in from close range after Thibaut Courtois kept Josko Gvardiol’s header alive in the six-yard area.
Erling Haaland completed the turnaround on the cusp of halftime, burying a penalty after being pushed over by Antonio Rüdiger. Real pushed hard after the interval, with Bellingham lofting a finish over the bar and substitute Endrick brushing the crossbar with a glancing header, but City stood firm to secure a significant away win.
Guardiola’s team keep composure under pressure
This latest clash marked the 15th meeting between the sides and the fifth in succession in Europe’s premier competition. The atmosphere was charged long before the whistle as the Real support booed ex-Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola when his name echoed through the stadium.
City, however, managed the occasion with poise. Despite early nerves and a conceded opener, they settled quickly and displayed assurance in possession. O’Reilly, a standout from the club’s youth system, not only struck a crucial equalizer but also produced several key defensive contributions.
Haaland’s calm finish from the spot delivered his 55th goal in the Champions League—no player has amassed more in the tournament since his introduction at Salzburg in 2019. Jeremy Doku almost added a third, only to see Courtois tip away his low effort, though the miss proved inconsequential.
The English champions bounced back from their recent setback against Bayer Leverkusen and climbed to fourth place in the league phase. With fixtures against Bodo/Glimt and Galatasaray still ahead, their prospects of securing a top-eight spot look promising. Still, Guardiola emphasized restraint, insisting that his team have more to improve before the competition reaches its decisive stages.
Guardiola urges caution despite major win
Reflecting on the victory, Guardiola noted that City have produced stronger performances at the Bernabeu without reward, acknowledging that progression to the latter rounds demands consistency beyond a single high-profile success. He praised the significance of triumphing in Madrid yet maintained that his squad remain a work in progress.
The manager underlined that their level must rise by February, even as this result stretched their current winning run to four games across all competitions. For City, the night represented both a statement and a reminder: they are capable of beating Europe’s most decorated club in its own fortress, but the season’s toughest challenges still await.
