Manchester City beat Real Madrid 2–1 at the Bernabéu in an open-ended and exciting affair

Real Madrid started the game strongly, Vinícius turning Dias inside out and drawing a foul from Dias’ outstretched leg just two minutes in. Initially this was awarded as a penalty, however referee for the night Clément Turpin corrected this to a free-kick just outside the box. The subsequent free-kick was struck by Valverde and took a wicked deflection wide. Real had another big chance just a few minutes later, Rodrygo playing a teasing ball across the face of goal towards Vinícius, the onrushing Donnarumma doing enough to put him off. Real were finally rewarded for their pressure in the 28th minute, with Bellingham passing to Rodrygo on the right side of the box, who accelerated and finished from a tight angle past Donnarumma. Given the angle perhaps the Italian could have done more to prevent the goal, but it was an excellent finish into the far corner nonetheless.

Against the run of play City managed to equalise in the 35th minute, an inswinging corner from Cherki headed into the ground by Gvardiol and spilled by Courtois into the path of O’Reilly to scruffily convert for his very first goal in the Champions League. City maintained their momentum, winning a penalty in the 39th minute through Haaland being wrestled to the ground by Rüdiger, preventing him from reaching the cross of O’Reilly.

Haaland’s stuttering run-up and penalty sent Courtois the wrong way to put City into an unexpected lead before half-time. On the stroke of half-time City nearly added a third, a devastating counter-attack sparked from Donnarumma’s release and ending with Haaland and Cherki both having strong shots saved.

The second half began in the same fashion as the first, Carreras driving Real forward and ending with Bellingham bearing down on Donnarumma’s goal, opting for an audacious chip which flew over the top of the crossbar. Doku nearly increased City’s cushion to two goals in the 61st minute, cutting inside Asensio the two battling all game and bending a shot towards the far-right post which Courtois expertly saved at full stretch.

O’Reilly conceded a clever yellow card to prevent Valverde running through on goal, pushing him in the back just outside the box. In the 77th minute Vinícius spurned a golden opportunity, his free header off target following trickery and a perfect cross from the left by Rodrygo. Minutes later Vinícius missed another opportunity unmarked, the Real Madrid corner touched by the fingertips of Donnarumma, leaving the City goal open but Vinícius unable to get his acrobatic effort on target. Rüdiger was very lucky to not receive a second yellow card as he came crashing in on Savinho from behind, giving away a free-kick just outside the box. The next big chance to go begging was from Real, Endrick rising higher than Gvardiol and his header evading Donnarumma and striking the crossbar.

This match was rife with attacking flair and prowess, the most impressive performances coming from moments down the wings from players such as Vinícius, Rodrygo, Cherki and Doku. Real Madrid may feel hard done by considering the amount of chances they had, however it continues a rough patch of form with two wins in their last eight and Xabi Alonso’s job remains in jeopardy. City however continue their good form and now rise to fourth in the Champions League table.