Champions League analysis: Five key talking points from Real Madrid vs Man City
In just their second ever victory at the Bernabeu, Manchester City were worthy winners against a largely lacklustre Real Madrid side.
Rodrygo opened the scoring with a low driven finish, his first in 32 games.
Nico O’Reilly levelled for the Cityzens after capitalising on a loose ball after Thibaut Courtois couldn’t handle Josko Gvardiol’s header.
Erling Haaland then scored the winner at the end of the first half, scoring the penalty he won after Antonio Rudiger brought him down in the box.
With 13 points, the result leaves City in fourth in the UEFA Champions League standings, with Real sat in seventh on 12.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Tom Gardiner gives his thoughts on the game.
Is Alonso’s future in jeopardy?
Another home defeat leaves the future of head coach Xabi Alonso on a knife-edge.
Defeat at the Bernabeu to Celta Vigo on Sunday evening saw the team trudge into the changing room to a chorus of jeers, boos and whistles.
Wednesday’s loss gave a similar outcome.
The fans at Real Madrid are ruthless. They expect the world of their side, and when performances are sub-par, they don’t hesitate to let their feelings known.
Reports state that the Madrid hierarchy are reserving judgment until the trip to Alaves on Sunday, December 14, but Alonso received an outpour of support from his players after the match.
Both Jude Bellingham and Courtois spoke after the match to reassure fans and media that all is well behind closed doors.
Alonso is a coach with a specific, intricate style of playing football. This takes time to master, which is a luxury rarely afforded in the Spanish capital.
Questions have been asked whether the ex-Leverkusen manager has the aura to captivate the squad.
Names like Zinedine Zidane and Jurgen Klopp have been thrown around as potential replacements, but time will tell on the Spaniard’s future.
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Mbappe watches on
Vinicius Jr. restored his position as head honcho of the Real Madrid starting lineup, as Kylian Mbappe watched from the bench with an ankle injury.
In years gone by, Real has been Vini’s team, no more so than under Carlo Ancelotti’s laissez-faire approach to football management.
New coach Alonso is keen to instil a more rigid structure at Madrid, prioritising a more well-rounded tactical approach, rather than trusting individual players to let their talent triumph.
As a result, the Brazilian has publicly fallen out with Alonso, leading to a frosty atmosphere and a fragile situation.
However, Mbappe’s knock gave Vini the chance to be the main man once more.
Unfortunately for the winger, Los Blancos failed to fashion a great deal throughout the match, meaning his chances to steal the headlines were at a minimum.
The home side looked their most threatening on the counter-attack, a style of offence which suits all of the players they have at the top of the pitch.
But when City regrouped behind the ball, Madrid looked uncertain of how to break them down.
They swung the ball from left to right, side to side, without a great deal of potency.
Largely, the Madrid performance was toothless.
Mbappe’s role may have gone some way to change this, solely due to the gravity he has and the attention he demands from opposing defenders.
His presence alone may have opened space for a colleague to attack, but alas, we will never know.
Rodrygo: Real’s forgotten man
Without the French superstar in the lineup, another attacker was summoned by Alonso.
Brazilian right winger Rodrygo had his chance in the limelight after being relegated to substitute duties since the arrival of Mbappe.
He capitalised on his opportunity, burying a stunning finish past the reach of Italian giant Gianluigi Donnarumma.
After 27 minutes, his effort opened the scoring to the joy of the Bernabeu.
Bellingham’s pass was well timed, and two touches were all Rodrygo needed before unleashing a powerful strike into the far corner.
On a personal level, this goal was well deserved.
The forgotten man looked to have the bit between his teeth from the off, so kudos to him for giving Alonso a selection headache.
Ultimately, his side failed to build on the platform the opener provided.
Madrid’s struggles both offensively and defensively were exposed, but Rodrygo showed that after nine months without a goal, he can still be relied upon to deliver when included.
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O’Reilly impresses once more
Academy graduate Nico O’Reilly is blossoming at left-back this season under Pep Guardiola.
He has featured in five out of six of City’s Champions League fixtures so far.
His proficiency in defence this season was rewarded tonight with a memorable goal for the Englishman.
O’Reilly pounced on a loose ball and converted from just a few yards after Belgian shotstopper Courtois fumbled Gvardiol’s goal-bound header.
His goal was his first in the competition, and albeit a scrappy one, it’s not a moment the 20-year-old will be forgetting in a hurry.
After all, there’s few better venues to open your account.
The defender found himself in the right place at the right time, and reacted quickest to bring his side level after 35 minutes.
Shortly afterwards, the full-back found himself in opposition territory once more, and clipped a cross in the general direction of Haaland, which is usually a sensible option!
Toni Rudiger carelessly dragged down the big Norwegian, and City were awarded a penalty, which, of course, the number nine converted.
O’Reilly scored one, and partly set up the other in his first match against the 15-time Champions League winners.
Pep trumps old rivals
As a proud Catalonian, Guardiola would’ve revelled in the victory his side achieved in the Bernabeu.
With Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester City, Pep has now won half of his matches against Madrid (14/28).
As a coach, he has gone to battle against Madrid for almost two decades, and the feeling of beating his arch-rivals will always be sweet.
Although City’s clashes with Madrid in the Champions League have been challenging, Pep’s tactical adaptability ensures that his team is always a formidable opponent.
With seven wins to his name, Pep is the most accomplished coach at leaving the Bernabeu victorious.
By defeating former player Alonso, his job at Madrid is now hanging by an increasingly thin thread.
Whilst not the winning machine of yesteryear, this new-look City squad still showed their class on the big stage and would’ve intimidated Europe with this display.
Write them off at your own will, Pep and his players are still capable of putting the biggest of sides to the sword.
For years, the Champions League was the elusive prize for Pep at City, but with one now under their belt, who’s to say they can’t go all the way this campaign?
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