Manchester City came from behind to heap the pressure on Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso with a stunning 2-1 win at the Bernabeu Stadium on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Nico O’Reilly and Erling Haaland \u2013 his 51st goal from his 50th Champions League start \u2013 were on target as Pep Guardiola\u2019s side got their European campaign back on track following last month\u2019s shock loss to Bayer Leverkusen.<\/p>\n
Both goals came in the final 10 minutes of the first half \u2013 Haaland\u2019s from the penalty spot \u2013 as City replied to Rodrygo\u2019s 28th-minute opener.<\/p>\n
Real had a number of chances to level but, with forward talisman Kylian Mbappe looking on from the bench injured, they were unable to take any of them.<\/p>\n
Coming after Saturday\u2019s dismal loss to Celta Vigo, it was a second defeat in quick succession for Real and a potentially decisive blow for under-fire manager Alonso\u2019s job.<\/p>\n
His side fought to the end but the whistles at full-time made the scale of frustration clear.<\/p>\n
It was the 11th meeting between the sides in just under six years but familiarity did not dilute the encounter.<\/p>\n
City survived an early scare when the referee awarded Real a penalty for a foul on Vinicius Junior by Matheus Nunes but VAR ruled the offence outside the area.<\/p>\n
Federico Valverde\u2019s shot from the resulting free-kick was deflected wide.<\/p>\n
Real attacked again moments later in a fast-paced start and City had another let-off as Vinicius failed to control Rodrygo\u2019s dangerous low ball.<\/p>\n
Rodrygo has ended his long goal drought in style to give Real Madrid a 1-0 lead against Man City<\/p>\n
#UCL<\/a> #RMAMCI<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udcf1 Updates – https:\/\/t.co\/qWzDL5PZse<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udcfa Watch live @RTE2<\/a> – https:\/\/t.co\/XnOP6grnB7<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/N49HvzoxS1<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 RT\u00c9 Sport (@RTEsport) December 10, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n The hosts made their next opportunity count as they swept forward from deep after Alvaro Carreras beat Bernardo Silva to the ball. Jude Bellingham fed Rodrygo out wide and the Brazilian advanced before drilling a low shot across Gianluigi Donnarumma into the far corner.<\/p>\n The goal may have been reward for Real\u2019s early sharpness but City had not been bystanders in the game having built some fluid attacks of their own without end product.<\/p>\n Their route back into the game came via a set-piece, however.<\/p>\n Nico O’Reilly reacts quickest to fire in Man City’s equaliser at the Santiago Bernabeu #UCL<\/a> #RMAMCI<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udcf1 Updates – https:\/\/t.co\/qWzDL5PZse<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udcfa Watch live @RTE2<\/a> – https:\/\/t.co\/XnOP6grnB7<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/lzVwgEcWmG<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 RT\u00c9 Sport (@RTEsport) December 10, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n O\u2019Reilly pounced to equalise from close range after Thibaut Courtois stopped but failed to gather a Josko Gvardiol header from a corner.<\/p>\n They were then gifted the chance to take the lead when Antonio Rudiger wrestled Haaland to the ground off the ball.<\/p>\n Erling Haaland makes no mistake from the spot to give Man City a 2-1 lead at the Bernabeu #UCL<\/a> #RMAMCI<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udcf1 Updates – https:\/\/t.co\/qWzDL5PZse<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udcfa Watch live @RTE2<\/a> – https:\/\/t.co\/XnOP6grnB7<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/2GrC2WUBsn<\/a><\/p>\n