De Bruyne helps Man City beat Real Madrid in Spain

February 26

23:45 2020

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Manchester City, the English Premier League champions, earned a statement win over ten-man Real Madrid, with a 2-1 victory over the Kings of Europe at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Spain.

The Pep Guardiola’s inspired side went into this encounter on the back of their impending two-year Champions League ban for alleged financial irregularities.

It was also Man City’s first ever win over Real Madrid in the Champions League.

Despite the entertaining football on display from the first period, the real drama started on the hour mark with Isco Alarcon giving Real the lead. Goals from Gabriel Jesus and Kevin De Bruyne, however, turned the game around for City.

Guardiola’s Citizens bossed the first half but could not make something meaningful of it, with De Bruyne, Jesus and Riyad Mahrez all wasting good opportunities while Real looked ordinary and offered nothing.

The second period proceeded like the first, but Real Madrid took a surprise lead on the hour mark through the hitherto abject Isco.

The Spaniard pounced on a cross from Vinicius Jr, who raced onto a loose ball off a failed defensive pass, to slot home his first goal in the UCL knockout phase since 2017.

City continued to seek the vital away goal and it finally came 12 minutes from time through Jesus. The Brazilian converted a header off de Bruyne’s pinpoint cross.

De Bruyne completed the turnaround for City four minutes later through a well taken penalty after Dani Carvajal, Real defender, had clumsily brought down Raheem Sterling in the box.

De Bruyne, the Man of the match, sent Thibaut Cortouis the wrong way for a 2-1 lead in favour of City.

It went from bad to worse for Real minutes later with a red card shown to Sergio Ramos for a professional foul on Jesus.

It was Ramos’ fourth red card in the UCL and 26th of his career.

The Manchester-based club held on to victory which they will take to the second leg at the Etihad stadium on Tuesday, March 17.

…Ronaldo and Juventus humbled by Lyon

Olympic Lyon, the French Lig 1 side, earned a surprise 1-0 win over an abject and sluggish Juventus, thanks to Kevin Tousart’s well taken goal at the Groupama stadium in Lyon.

The only goal of the encounter was scored on 31st minute when an unmarked Lucas Tousart raced into the box to meet Houssem Aouar’s cutback with a deft shot which nestled into the top of the net from eight yards out.

Cameroon’s Karl Toko Ekambi and Mussa Dembele should have punished a sluggish Juve defence but their wayward shots sailed aimlessly wide.

Juventus have relied on the 35-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo since his move to the Italian side but the Portuguese superstar could not put his team back into the contest, firing blank on the night.

Lyon’s win is the first time a French side would defeat an Italian club in a UCL game in eight year, and they would have to defend the slim advantage in the return leg set for Turin in mid March.