Manchester City took another step towards the last 16 of the Champions League by beating Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.
After a wobble against Bayer Leverkusen last month, City eased to a victory that took them above their opponents in the group-stage standings — and on course for a top-eight finish.
It was Madrid who took the lead in a frantic first half, Rodrygo ending a 32-game personal scoring drought by firing low past Gianluigi Donnarumma.
City responded through Nico O’Reilly, who scored from close range following a corner, then won a penalty when Erling Haaland was bundled to the floor by Antonio Rudiger.
Haaland dusted himself down and stroked home what would prove to be the winner in the Spanish capital.
The Athletic’s Jack Lang, Dermot Corrigan and Conor O’Neill assess the action…
Are City potential Champions League winners?
This was far from Manchester City’s best display of the season. Phil Foden had a quiet night, depriving the team of a decent chunk of its attacking fluidity. The two goals owed plenty to Madrid’s generosity.
Still, it would be churlish to play down a win at the Bernabeu. There was enough here to reinforce the feeling — generated in the early months of the campaign — that they will go far in this competition.
City were solid enough defensively, repelling a decaffeinated Madrid attack without too much fuss. In midfield, Nico Gonzalez put on another clinic in understated control, nudging the dial in City’s direction with an endless series of good decisions. That the commentators barely even mentioned his name does not undermine the point.
O’Reilly and Doku were a constant menace down the left. Just as impressive, in a different way, was Rayan Cherki. The Frenchman arrived at City with a reputation as a showman and, sure, enough, there were a few little flourishes here: an early nutmeg on Rudiger, a ball lifted over the head of an opponent, a gorgeous, slo-mo clipped pass that nearly allowed Haaland to make it three. Mainly, though, he just symbolised City’s work ethic, constant movement and — yes — unflappability.
With only Bodo/Glimt and Galatasaray to come in the New Year, Pep Guardiola can already start to think about the knockout rounds. Wins like this will make him think this could be City’s year.
Where does defeat leave Alonso and Real Madrid?
A defeat in such a high-profile game is obviously far from ideal from Madrid, but this did not seem like the final blow which would end Xabi Alonso’s time as coach after just six months.
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