Erling Haaland scores winning penalty in Man City's away win over Real Madrid
Real Madrid lost 2-1 to Manchester City in their UEFA Champions League (UCL) encounter at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday.
The off-form 15-time UCL champions were without injured Kylian Mbappe, and were overpowered by a fast-improving Man City side, with Erling Haaland scoring the winner to seal the comeback win. Rodrygo had scored the opener for Real before Nico O’Riley restored parity as all goals came in the first half.
Real Madrid started the better side and had a penalty overturned in the second minute, with Federico Valverde and Vinicius Jr. both going close.
Rodrygo would eventually put Xabi Alonso’s side ahead on 28 minutes, the Brazilian collected Jude Bellingham’s pass before rifling home into the net for 1-0. Pep Guardiola’s City responded with the equaliser on 35 minutes as O’Riley reacted quickest to bundle home after Thibaut Courtois spilt a Josko Gvardiol header, allowing the fullback to restore parity.
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Haaland scored the eventual winner from the penalty spot after he was tripped in the box by Antony Rudiger, and the Norwegian striker sent Courtois the wrong way to seal the win in 43 minutes.
Defeat piles more pressure on coach Xabi Alonso as Real Madrid dropped to seventh on the UCL table with 12 points, while Man City moved up to fourth position, a point better than their host.
Elsewhere, Arsenal continued their perfect UCL run with a 3-0 win over Club Brugge in Belgium, Noni Madueke hitting a brace, with Gabriel Martinelli also registering his name on the scoresheet. Benfica, however, shocked Napoli 2-0 in Portugal, while Paris Saint-Germain, reigning UCL champions, were held to a goalless draw at Athletic Bilbao.
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RESULTS
Real Madrid 1-2 Manchester City
Juventus 2-0 Pafos FC
Borussia Dortmund 2-2 Bodo/Glimt
Villarreal 2-3 FC Copenhagen
Qarabag 2-4 Ajax Amsterdam
Athletic Bilbao 0-0 Paris Saint-Germain
Benfica 2-0 Napoli
Club Brugge 0-3 Arsenal
Bayer Leverkusen 2-2 Newcastle United
