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Manchester City came from behind to pile pressure on Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso with a 2-1 victory at the Bernabéu on Wednesday.
Erling Haaland — scoring his 51st goal in just 50 Champions League starts — and Nico O’Reilly struck late in the first half as Pep Guardiola’s side reignited their European campaign after last month’s shock defeat to Bayer Leverkusen.
Rodrygo had given Madrid a 28th-minute lead in a pulsating contest, but City overturned the deficit within 10 minutes.
According to ESPN, Haaland levelled from the penalty spot before O’Reilly bundled in the winner from close range after Thibaut Courtois failed to hold Josko Gvardiol’s header.
Madrid pushed hard for an equaliser, but with Kylian Mbappé injured and watching from the bench, they lacked the cutting edge.
The defeat — coming just days after their dismal loss to Celta Vigo — leaves Alonso under mounting scrutiny, with loud whistles greeting the final whistle.
The rivals were meeting for the 11th time in under six years, and the early exchanges were as intense as expected.
City survived an early scare when a foul by Matheus Nunes on Vinícius Júnior initially earned Madrid a penalty before VAR ruled the contact occurred outside the box. Federico Valverde’s shot from the resulting free kick deflected wide.
Madrid’s fast start continued, and they capitalised when Álvaro Carreras dispossessed Bernardo Silva to launch a sweeping counterattack.
Jude Bellingham released Rodrygo, who drove forward and drilled a low shot across Gianluigi Donnarumma into the far corner.
City responded with sustained spells of possession but needed a set piece to draw level. Courtois parried Gvardiol’s header from a corner, allowing O’Reilly to react quickest and score.
Minutes later, Antonio Rüdiger wrestled Haaland to the turf off the ball, gifting City a penalty after a lengthy VAR review. Haaland confidently sent Courtois the wrong way to make it 2-1.
City might have extended their lead before the break, but Courtois redeemed himself with sharp saves from Haaland and Rayan Cherki.
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