"City met Madrid for the fifth season in succession on Wednesday. Despite Madrid's recent struggles under Xabi Alonso, winning at the Santiago Bernabeu is a huge result, a deserved win where City might have been out of sight by half-time. Rodrygo scored his habitual goal against City but one of Guardiola's new generation in Nico O'Reilly equalised before a controversial penalty award, converted by Erling Haaland, decided the game."
"I've been here [at the Bernabeu] many times in the last five years and we have played much better than today and not won, Guardiola said. He talks and his team plays like he has his mojo back. No Mohamed Salah, taking gym selfies back on Merseyside, but the Champions League continued to be a haven for Liverpool and Arne Slot."
Manchester City secured a narrow victory at the Santiago Bernabeu after Erling Haaland converted a contentious penalty following Nico O'Reilly's equaliser to Rodrygo's opener. The result halted Real Madrid's recent positive momentum under Xabi Alonso and exposed ongoing squad fragility amid injuries and internal issues. Pep Guardiola corrected a recent selection error and fielded a side capable of grinding out a tough away win. The Champions League maintained its status as a refuge for elite forwards and managers, as Liverpool-related distractions and Arne Slot's pragmatic focus on available players shaped expectations ahead of key continental fixtures.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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