Real Madrid 1–2 Manchester City: UCL Match Report & Highlights

On: December 11, 2025 8:09 AM

Real Madrid 1–2 Manchester City: UCL Match Report & Highlights

---Advertisement---

Real Madrid vs Manchester City – Match Summary

Manchester City secured a massive comeback victory at the Santiago Bernabéu, defeating Real Madrid 2–1 in a tense Champions League affair. Rodrygo opened the scoring for the hosts against the run of play, but City responded with maturity. Youngster Nico O’Reilly leveled the score before Erling Haaland converted a penalty just before halftime. The second half was a tactical battle where City managed the game perfectly, limiting Madrid to mostly off-target efforts.

Real Madrid vs Manchester City – Final Score

Real Madrid 1–2 Manchester City

(HT: 1–2)

Goals:

28’ — Rodrygo (RMA)
35’ — O’Reilly (MCI)
43’ — Haaland (Pen) (MCI)

Real Madrid vs Manchester City – Timeline & Events

28’ — ⚽ GOAL! Rodrygo finishes a Jude Bellingham pass into the bottom corner to give Madrid the lead. (1–0)
35’ — ⚽ GOAL! City equalize quickly! Nico O’Reilly pounces on a rebound inside the box. (1–1)
42’ — 📺 VAR Review: A penalty is awarded to City after a review shows Antonio Rüdiger fouled Haaland.
43’ — ⚽ GOAL! Erling Haaland steps up and smashes the penalty into the bottom right corner. (1–2)
82’ — 🟨 Card: Pep Guardiola is booked for dissent on the touchline.
88’ — 🟨 Card: Álvaro Carreras (RMA) booked for holding. He will miss the next match.
90’ — 🟨 Card: Bernardo Silva (MCI) booked for tripping. He will miss the next match.

First Half Analysis

Real Madrid started with high energy but low efficiency. They took the lead through Rodrygo’s brilliance, but their defensive discipline crumbled shortly after. City capitalized on the space, with Nico O’Reilly scoring a crucial equalizer. The turning point came late in the half when VAR intervened to penalize Rüdiger, allowing Haaland to give City the lead from the spot.

Second Half Analysis

The second half was defined by Real Madrid’s inefficiency. Despite attempting numerous shots, they struggled to test the goalkeeper. City’s defense, marshaled by Ruben Dias, held firm. Madrid threw on attackers like Endrick (who hit the crossbar in the 85th minute) and Arda Güler, but they could not find the target.

xG Reality Check: Real Madrid 1.50 | Manchester City 2.61

Key Match Factors

Madrid’s Shooting Woes: Real Madrid took 16 shots but only managed 1 shot on target (their goal). Their xGOT (Expected Goals on Target) was a dismal 0.13.
Donnarumma vs Courtois: While Donnarumma was rarely tested (1 save), Courtois kept Madrid in the game with 6 saves.
Midfield Battle: City controlled the ball slightly less than usual (48%) but were far more effective with it in the final third.
Discipline: A feisty encounter saw 7 yellow cards, with key suspensions confirmed for the next round (Carreras and Silva).

Player of the Match

🏆 Erling Haaland (Manchester City)

Scored the match-winning penalty and was a constant physical problem for the Madrid defense, drawing the foul that led to the spot-kick.

Real Madrid vs Manchester City – Player Ratings

Real Madrid	Rating	Manchester City	Rating
Courtois	7.5	Donnarumma	6.5
Valverde	6.5	Nunes	7.0
Asencio	6.0	Dias	7.5
Rudiger	5.5	Gvardiol	7.0
Carreras	6.0	O’Reilly	8.0
Ceballos	6.0	Silva	7.0
Tchouameni	6.5	Nico	6.5
Bellingham	7.0	Foden	7.0
Garcia	6.0	Cherki	7.5
Rodrygo	7.5	Doku	7.0
Vinicius Jr	6.5	Haaland (MOTM)	8.0

Real Madrid vs Manchester City – Match Stats

Stat	Real Madrid	Manchester City
Expected Goals (xG)	1.50	2.61
xG on Target (xGOT)	0.13	3.03
Possession	52%	48%
Total Shots	16	12
Shots on Target	1	8
Big Chances	4	3
Corners	4	3
Passes (Accuracy)	371 (85%)	361 (87%)
Fouls	14	17
Yellow Cards	3	4
Goalkeeper Saves	6	0

Top 5 Performers

Erling Haaland (MCI): Decisive penalty and elite hold-up play.
Nico O’Reilly (MCI): Scored the vital equalizer and worked tirelessly in midfield.
Thibaut Courtois (RMA): Made 6 saves to prevent a heavier defeat.
Rodrygo (RMA): Madrid’s only real spark; scored a great goal before being subbed.
Rayan Cherki (MCI): Constant creative threat before being substituted.

Underperformers / Weak Links

Real Madrid Attack: Despite 16 shots, they had 0.13 xGOT, meaning their shooting was incredibly poor.
Antonio Rüdiger (RMA): Conceded the penalty that cost his team the game.

Substitutions Impact

Arda Güler (RMA): Came on for Garcia (58′) and looked lively. (Rating: 7.4)
Savinho (MCI): Replaced Cherki (70′) and maintained the pressure. (Rating: 7.0)
Endrick (RMA): Hit the crossbar late on but couldn’t equalize. (Rating: 5.8)

Tactical Breakdown

Real Madrid:

Inefficient Shooting: Created chances (1.50 xG) but wasted them completely (1 shot on target).
Vulnerable in Box: Conceded a penalty and allowed City too much space for the first goal.

Manchester City:

Clinical Edge: Generated 3.03 xGOT, testing Courtois repeatedly.
Game Management: Absorbed pressure in the second half and looked dangerous on the break.

What This Result Means

Real Madrid: Drop to 7th place (12 pts) and face a tougher fight for the top spots.
Manchester City: Climb to 4th place (13 pts) and look comfortable for qualification.