Real Madrid 1-2 Manchester City (Rodrygo Goes). A heartier performance falls short… Here is the reaction to the defeat. Hang around for: Player ratings, interviews and a podcast.
Seven players out injured.
Six defenders. No Eduardo Camavinga. The gigantic Manchester City shaped hurdle facing Xabi Alonso looked like mission impossible, with even Kylian Mbappé sidelined (although listed on the bench) with a muscle issue. Fede Valverde was put back into right-back, with the only fit two centre-backs starting in the heart of defence. Dani Ceballos started in midfield, with Rodrygo Goes and Gonzalo García being called upon from what looked like the last throw of the dice. Four Castilla players made the bench. Fede Valverde captained the side.
How this game would play out was anyone’s guess. But the players were putting in some hard miles from the start, and almost had a penalty when Vinícius Júnior was brought down on the wrong side of the painted line. Gonzalo García and Rodrygo Goes both looksd sharp, and it would be the Brazilian who would open the scoring – picking the ball up from Jude Bellingham before finishing low. Jude as it looked like Madrid would push on, the visitors grabbed the game back through a corner. They’d then take the lead thanks to the foolishness of Antonio Rüdiger, who brought down Erling Haaland inside the area to concede a penalty – one that the Norwegian was never going to miss. 2-1 at half-time.
The second half started off bright, with a great move triggered by Álvaro Carreras weaving out of the defence – only for Jude Bellingham to make the completely wrong decision in front of goal. Rodrygo Goes then shot just over the bar with his weak foot. Proceedings became rather timid after this, and while the chances dried up – it was Manchester City who looked more dangerous by the point. Vinícius Júnior headed a Rodrygo Goes cross wide as we entered the final ten minutes. His next chance would look even worse, shinning the ball over an empty target after a corner flew his way. Endrick had a good headed attempt saved as Los Blancos started to build some late momentum. This ultimately proved fruitless however, and the game finished 2-1 to Manchester City. Was this an improvement?
