City won 2-1 after coming from behind to beat Real Madrid. The result pushed them back into the top eight of the Champions League table.
Madrid took the lead in the 28th minute. Rodrygo finished a sharp move and lifted the crowd. But City did not panic. Nico O’Reilly equalised soon after with a calm finish. Erling Haaland then scored from the penalty spot before half-time. City went into the break with control of the match.
Xabi Alonso needed a result. His team had started the season well, but the slide since early November has been hard to stop. Madrid fought for him, yet they could not shape the game to their liking. Two wins in eight matches summed up the pressure he now faces.
Pep Guardiola came to Madrid with a clear plan. His last Champions League night had gone wrong. This time he picked a strong lineup and asked for a reaction. He got exactly that. It was not City at their best, but it was a solid and brave win. The scoreline alone brought him relief.
Rodrygo’s goal had given Madrid hope. It was his first in 33 matches for the club. He celebrated with Alonso, a moment that said much about their bond. But the mood changed quickly. The home fans grew restless as City took control. O’Reilly showed his promise with a lively display, while Haaland stayed calm from the spot.
Madrid still pushed. Endrick came off the bench and almost rescued a point with a header against the bar. Alonso had sent him on in a bold move, taking off defender Raúl Asencio. It did not work. He searched for positives, but luck stayed away.
Alonso faced more problems before kick-off. His defenders were injured and Kylian Mbappé was not fit. Mbappé stayed on the bench, a clear sign of his condition.
The match began at a frantic pace. Madrid created early moments through Vinícius Júnior, who caused trouble on the edge of the box. A foul by Matheus Nunes almost gave Madrid a penalty, but VAR showed it happened just outside the area. Federico Valverde went close from the free-kick.
Madrid looked sharp in the first 15 minutes. Vinícius and Jude Bellingham roamed with freedom. Álvaro Carreras drove an attack from left-back to start the move that led to Rodrygo’s goal.
But the rest of the half exposed their weaknesses. Had Thibaut Courtois not made a brilliant double save from Haaland and Rayan Cherki, City would have led even earlier.
City’s equaliser came from a corner. Josko Gvardiol rose highest, Courtois pushed the ball out, and O’Reilly reacted quickest. Madrid complained of a foul on Antonio Rüdiger, but VAR saw no problem.
The second goal followed soon. O’Reilly crossed and Rüdiger lost control of Haaland inside the area. He grabbed the striker and fell on him. VAR alerted the referee, and Haaland scored the winning penalty.
Madrid chased the game in the second half. Bellingham missed a big chance when he chipped too high with only Gianluigi Donnarumma ahead of him. Vinícius also fired wide twice. Endrick struck the bar and the moment summed up their night. The chances were there, but the finish was not.
City finished strong. Cherki and Jérémy Doku carried the ball with confidence and helped slow the game down. Guardiola praised their courage after the match.
Madrid pushed until the final whistle. But when Endrick’s header hit the woodwork, the outcome felt certain. City held on. Madrid walked off to whistles. City walked off with a vital win.
