Real Madrid couldn’t avoid what everyone had predicted: a loss. Against a Manchester City side that was average in open play and purely methodical, Madrid simply failed to bring the ingredients required to win.
- Real Madrid 1-2 Manchester City : Rodrygo 28’ – O’Reilly 35’ Haaland o.p 43’
The first half was played at an insane pace. With a packed midfield, Real managed to trouble City early and created several promising moments, including a near-penalty that was ultimately downgraded to a free kick won by Vinicius. In a match full of transitions, Madrid struck first: Rodrygo finally found the net for the first time since March.
But after a strong opening spell, Madrid faded physically and exposed themselves to City’s game. From a corner, City equalized: Gvardiol’s header forced Courtois into a save, but the Belgian pushed the ball straight to O’Reilly, who gladly tapped it in. City kept pushing and earned a penalty after Rudiger clumsily brought down Haaland—a rugby-style tackle that would have earned him praise on a different pitch. Haaland converted, and City could have easily led 1–3 if not for an extraordinary double save from Courtois on Haaland and Cherki.
In the second half, the intensity dropped. City focused on controlling the game, leaving Madrid with no choice but to push forward in search of an equalizer. Only chances from Endrick—and especially Bellingham—came close to changing the outcome, but luck abandoned Los Blancos, along with their level of play.
Without Mbappé, not fit enough to appear, Madrid created nothing meaningful and barely threatened a City defense that is usually far from flawless.
Xabi Alonso is now firmly on the hot seat, and his Madrid tenure could end sooner than expected.