‘Some things were happening,” Josko Gvardiol said, with glorious understatement, as he reflected on the chaos of Manchester City’s start at Real Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday night. The defender had been guilty of a lapse at the very outset, caught in possession, Madrid suddenly in and running. Then, there was the penalty that was not.
It was a reckless swipe in the third minute by Matheus Nunes on Vinícius Júnior, the referee, Clément Turpin, pointing to the spot only for the VAR to step in and rule that the offence was fractionally outside the area. City’s heads spun and a tone was set. The opening half-hour was an uncomfortable experience for them and, by the time that spell had ended, Madrid were 1-0 up through Rodrygo and looking good for a much-needed victory.
That City would turn it around to lead 2-1 by half-time was of a piece with the topsy-turviness, the whiff of fragility about both teams, although Gvardiol was entitled to talk up the fighting spirit that he and his teammates showed. The goals came from Nico O’Reilly and Erling Haaland – the first after a corner, the second from a penalty – and they were sufficient for a momentous win.
Momentous had to be the word because it was only the second time City had won at the Bernabéu, the first having been the 2-1 success in the Champions League last-16 first leg in 2019-20. That went down as one of the finest nights the club’s fans had experienced, one celebrated long and loudly.
It was different this time. In truth it did not feel that momentous, mainly because it was a group game. Perhaps it is also an illustration of where City are these days: an authentic Champions League powerhouse, the trophy in the cabinet from 2023 further emboldening them.
The result also brought a top-eight league-stage finish into view. Pep Guardiola said four points from the last two matches against Bodø/Glimt (away) and Galatasaray (home) in January would make certain of it.
The real boost was the performance levels of some of City’s younger players, those who had not previously kicked a ball at the Bernabéu – specifically O’Reilly, Rayan Cherki and Jérémy Doku. What pleased Guardiola so much about O’Reilly was his bravery, how he wanted to play and kept on looking to do so even after mistakes.
It was the counterpoint to the displays of several players in the 2-0 home loss to Bayer Leverkusen on 25 November when Guardiola made wholesale changes and felt an overall timidity, a reluctance to try things – which to him is a crime. As for Doku, Guardiola described him as “outstanding”.
There is a view behind the scenes at City that this reshaped team, with the accent on youth, will need two years to fully hit their stride. Nights such as Wednesday are a part of the process. Yet it was easy to feel that Guardiola was not happy. The reason was mapped out over those first 30 minutes. And the final 15, too, when Madrid pushed for the equaliser and would have got it but for loose finishing and the crossbar denying the substitute Endrick.
Guardiola’s obsession with control is well documented. There have simply been too many occasions this season when City have lacked it, leading them to dice with dropped points. After the Leverkusen game, City needed a stoppage-time Phil Foden winner to beat Leeds 3-2, having surrendered a 2-0 lead. They just about hung on to edge Fulham 5-4, having been 5-1 up and even against Sunderland there was anxiety at the Etihad when the team conceded chances at 2-0 up. They went on to win 3-0.
Solidity wins titles and it is reasonable to wonder whether City can land the biggest ones this season when they do not place games and opponents in a vice-like grip, as they have done as a matter of course in years gone by. This Guardiola vintage do not look to inflict death by a thousand passes. They are more direct, wanting to hit Haaland as much as possible, to get him into positions to make the difference. When they do not have the ball – and the control – bad things can happen.
Against Fulham, City grew nervous, dropping deep to leave spaces, and in Madrid the issue was vulnerability against quick transitions. Guardiola made the point that any team would struggle against Vinícius and Rodrgyo, against Jude Bellingham’s runs in behind. But there was also an admission.
“Our shape … we could not control every single ball we lose,” Guardiola said. “They could run. We had to control it a little bit more. In low situations, we can run [as well]. When our people up front lose the ball, we are [needing to] cover and always we were too late, but we will learn.”
O’Reilly’s equaliser in the 35th minute was the turning point, his head coach feeling that “sometimes you find a goal and after that you find the way you have to play”. Again, he brought up control. “Until our goal, we could not control,” he said. “We tried to have the ball but not with the intention to be aggressive with it. They defend so deep and every time we lose the ball they punish us, especially with Rodrygo.”
Gvardiol said the victory showed City could beat anyone. He added that it could be the spark for one of those bulldozing winning streaks. Tweaks, however, need to be made and Guardiola knows it. There is a greater jeopardy around this City and it makes them more watchable. Is it a recipe for a champion team?
