Manchester City 2-3 Real Madrid: Epic Comeback at the Etihad
Real Madrid pulled off an unforgettable victory at the Etihad Stadium, defeating Manchester City 2-3 in a thrilling encounter. The scoreline doesn’t fully reflect Madrid’s dominance, as Carlo Ancelotti’s side controlled large parts of the match and could have won by an even greater margin.
A First Half of Missed Chances
From the very first minute, Real Madrid took control, pressing high and suffocating City’s build-up play.
Kylian Mbappé had the first clear chance in the 10th minute with a powerful shot from outside the box, forcing a brilliant save from Ederson. Shortly after, Ferland Mendy missed an open goal after a beautiful combination with Vinicius Jr.
Despite Madrid’s dominance, it was City who struck first. In the 18th minute, Erling Haaland capitalized on a clever chest assist from Gvardiol to fire past Courtois. The goal was reviewed by VAR for a potential foul, but it was eventually given.
Madrid kept pushing. Vinicius smashed a shot against the crossbar in the 27th minute, while Fede Valverde and Rodrygo tested Ederson with powerful efforts. However, the Brazilian goalkeeper stood firm, and the first half ended with an undeserved lead for the home side.
Second-Half Comeback
Haaland almost doubled City’s lead early in the second half, hitting the crossbar after a brilliant cross from Kevin De Bruyne. But Madrid responded with intensity.
In the 60th minute, Dani Ceballos delivered a perfectly timed through ball to Mbappé, who finished with an unorthodox strike to level the score.
Madrid smelled blood and went all-out in attack. Valverde came close with a low shot that grazed the post, and Jude Bellingham had a golden chance after a dazzling run from Vinicius, but Ederson produced a miraculous save.
Just when Madrid seemed on the brink of taking the lead, the referee awarded a controversial penalty to City in the 76th minute after Ceballos’ challenge on Phil Foden. Haaland converted from the spot, putting City ahead once again.
Late Drama with Brahim and Bellingham
Real Madrid never gave up. In the 86th minute, Ederson fumbled two clearances inside the box, and Brahim Díaz, ever-alert, tapped the ball into the net. Out of respect for his former club, Brahim refrained from celebrating, but Madrid’s fans were already in full party mode.
Then came the moment of pure Champions League magic. In the 93rd minute, a mistake by Rico Lewis allowed Vinicius to break through on goal. His chipped attempt was weak, but Bellingham was in the right place at the right time, smashing the rebound into the net to seal a legendary win for Real Madrid.
Valverde and Asencio: The Unexpected Heroes
Fede Valverde delivered an outstanding performance at right-back. Despite playing out of position, he was rock-solid in defense and contributed smartly in attack—showcasing his versatility and team-first mentality.
The surprise of the night was Raúl Asencio, tasked with the daunting job of marking Haaland. The young defender rose to the occasion, proving that he has what it takes to compete at the highest level. His performance could even earn him a regular starting spot in future matches.
Real Madrid’s triumph at the Etihad was well-deserved, in a night full of drama, resilience, and European greatness. However, they’ll need to finish the job in the second leg at the Santiago Bernabéu.
