Manchester City delivered a statement European performance at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday night, coming from behind to beat Real Madrid 2–1 and move back into the Champions League top eight.
In what has become the most frequent and fiercely contested European fixture of the last decade, the two sides produced another gripping encounter under the Madrid lights.
Rodrygo put the hosts ahead in the 28th minute, finishing from a tight angle after a rapid counter-attack.
But City responded with trademark resilience and quality, turning the game around before the interval.
Nico O’Reilly levelled seven minutes later, reacting quickest to smash home after Thibaut Courtois had kept out Joško Gvardiol’s powerful header from a Jeremy Doku corner.
The comeback was complete shortly before half-time when VAR spotted Antonio Rüdiger pulling back Erling Haaland in the box. The Norwegian stepped up and clinically converted from the spot to give City the lead at the break.
The second half was played at a breathless pace, with both sides carving out clear openings. Jude Bellingham lifted a delicate effort over Gianluigi Donnarumma—and the crossbar—while Courtois twice denied Rayan Cherki and pushed away a fierce drive from Doku.
At the other end, Endrick struck the bar late on as Madrid chased an equaliser, but City’s defensive organisation and composure held firm to secure a deserved and hard-earned victory.
The win leaves City fourth in the league phase table and firmly in control of their qualification destiny as the push for a seeded top-eight finish continues.
Key moments
The night almost exploded into life inside two minutes when referee Clément Turpin awarded City a penalty, only for VAR to overturn the decision and rule Matheus Nunes’ challenge on Vinicius Junior occurred outside the box.
Federico Valverde then struck narrowly wide as Madrid enjoyed an early surge.
City controlled possession for long stretches but were punished for a momentary lapse when Madrid broke at speed for Rodrygo’s opener.
The response, however, was emphatic—O’Reilly’s equaliser and Haaland’s penalty turning the tide in City’s favour.
Before the interval, City could have gone further ahead, O’Reilly releasing Haaland through on goal only for Courtois to deny him brilliantly before smothering Cherki’s rebound.
The intensity continued after the restart, but it was City who showed the greater maturity and control, managing space superbly and threatening repeatedly on the counter until the final whistle.
Teams
Real Madrid: Courtois; Valverde (C), Asensio (Endrick 79), Rüdiger, Carreras; Tchouameni, Ceballos (Brahim 67); Bellingham; Rodrygo, Gonzalo (Güler 58), Vinicius
Subs not used: Lunin, Fran Gonzalez, Mbappé, Fran Garcia, Cestero, Mastantuono, Martinez, Valdepeños
City: Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly; Nico, Bernardo (C); Foden (Reijnders 70), Cherki (Savinho 71), Doku (Ake 87); Haaland (Marmoush 70)
Subs not used: Trafford, Bettinelli, Aït-Nouri, Khusanov, Bobb, Lewis
Star Man – Nico O’Reilly
On a night full of standout displays, Nico O’Reilly edged it with a commanding performance in midfield.
Intelligent, composed and relentlessly industrious, the young Spaniard dictated the tempo in one of the world’s most intimidating arenas.
Staying calm in the Champions League is difficult; staying calm at the Bernabeu is something else entirely. Nico did both with maturity beyond his years.
Reaction
City’s Head Coach Pep Guardiolasaid:“Winning at the Bernabeu is always special.”
He went further to say that four, five or six of our players were experiencing this stadium for the first time, so this is part of the process.
“We already have 13 points and the top eight is in our hands. After Leverkusen and now this win, we must be very happy,” he underscored.
Adding: “In February we will be even better. The effort and spirit were incredible, but there is still plenty of room to improve.”
Nico O’Reilly
“It’s an unbelievable feeling. The atmosphere here is unreal and it’s such a difficult place to come. Scoring at the Bernabeu is something I’ll remember forever, but the three points are what matter most.
“Real Madrid are an incredible team with so much history against us. To come here and win shows the level we are playing at right now.”
What it means
City climb to fourth in the Champions League league-phase standings. Two wins from the final two fixtures will guarantee a top-eight finish and automatic qualification to the round of 16.
The competition now pauses until next year, when City travel to Norway to face Bodo/Glimt on January20, before concluding the group stage against Galatasaray at the Etihad the following week.
What’s next
Attention shifts back to the Premier League, where another stern test awaits.
City travel to Selhurst Park to face fourth-placed Crystal Palace on Sunday, December 14.
