Manchester City recovered from a goal down to win 2-1 at Real Madrid in the Champions League, a comeback that strengthened their bid for a top-eight league-phase finish and left Xabi Alonso clinging to his job after another damaging night for the Spanish champions.
Rodrygo's first goal in 33 club appearances had given Real the lead at the Bernabeu, but Nico O'Reilly equalised inside seven minutes and Erling Haaland's penalty on the stroke of half-time settled a contest staged between these familiar foes for the fifth consecutive Champions League campaign.
VAR drama before the storm
City almost suffered a nightmare opening when Matheus Nunes tripped Vinicius Junior inside the first two minutes. Referee Clement Turpin initially pointed to the spot before being sent to the monitor by VAR, which determined that the offence was fractionally outside the area.