Key stats
- Manchester City have beaten Real Madrid for the first time in the UEFA Champions League since May 17th, 2023, a run of four games without a win.
- This was only the second time in Real Madrid's history that they have scored first but gone in behind at half-time of a European Cup/Champions League game, after March 1991 versus Spartak Moscow.
- Real Madrid have lost after scoring the opening goal in the UEFA Champions League for the first time since February 26th, 2020 against Manchester City (37 games without defeat).
Match report
This clash topped the UCL billing for matchday six, and the game lived up to its expectations inside the opening five minutes.
Vinicius Junior hit the deck inside the area under a challenge from Matheus Nunes, and while referee Clément Turpin originally pointed to the spot, VAR confirmed that the challenge was, in fact, outside of the area.
Federico Valverde’s effort from the resulting free-kick deflected inches wide of the post, before Vini Jr. dinked an effort just over the bar as Madrid looked to capitalise on a slow City start.
The visitors hadn’t had a single attempt in the opening half-hour, and they were eventually punished inside that period.
A swift Real counterattack ended with Rodrygo in the inside right channel, and the Brazilian made no mistake in arrowing an effort into the far corner to end a whopping 32-game goal drought.
However, with their first meaningful chance of the game, City hit back when Josko Gvardiol climbed highest to get the initial contact on Rayan Cherki’s corner, allowing Nico O’Reilly to prod home the rebound from inside the six-yard box.
The game was flipped on its head just moments later when a moment of madness from Antonio Rudiger saw him drag Erling Haaland to the ground inside the area.
Despite originally being missed on-field, a swift check of the pitchside monitor resulted in a penalty being awarded, and it was no surprise to see Haaland dispatched from the spot.
After the restart, Jude Bellingham spurned a glorious chance to get Madrid back on level terms when he dinked over the crossbar as he angled in on goal.
Xabi Alonso turned to his bench in an attempt to change the flow of the game, but his changes didn’t particularly have the desired effect.
It was one of their starters who missed two glorious chances to draw level, with Vini Jr first missing a free header six yards from goal, before he then volleyed over at the far post after he was once again left unmarked by the City defence.
Endrick was Alonso’s last throw of the dice, and he came within a lick of paint of bailing his manager out when his header crashed back off the crossbar.
City endured sustained pressure in the closing stages, but they defended admirably to see out a significant victory in their quest to secure automatic qualification to the last 16.
A chorus of whistles and jeers greeted the final whistle in Madrid, as Alonso’s position comes under even greater scrutiny after slumping to back-to-back home defeats.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Nico O’Reilly (Manchester City)
