Haaland Strikes as City Stun Madrid at the Bernabéu

Erling Haaland stepped up when it mattered most, converting a crucial penalty to seal Manchester City's breathtaking 1-2 victory over Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu. The Norwegian striker's ice-cool finish in the 43rd minute proved the decisive blow as ninth-placed City stunned fifth-placed Madrid in a pulsating Champions League encounter that left the home crowd silenced.

The drama unfolded in a frantic first half that showcased the very best of European football. Rodrygo ignited the Bernabéu in the 28th minute, rifling a right-footed shot from the right side of the box into the bottom left corner after brilliant work from Jude Bellingham. The Brazilian's celebration was short-lived, however, as City roared back with devastating efficiency. Nico O'Reilly prodded home from very close range in the 35th minute, capitalizing on chaos following a corner to slot into the bottom left corner. Eight minutes later, Haaland stepped up to the penalty spot and drilled his left-footed effort into the bottom right corner, sending the keeper the wrong way.

The tactical battle raged across the pitch as both sides threw everything forward. Jude Bellingham orchestrated Madrid's attacks with his usual flair, while City's midfield trio of Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden, and Nico O'Reilly controlled the tempo for large spells. Thibaut Courtois produced several crucial saves for Madrid, including a brilliant stop to deny Haaland from close range in the 59th minute, while at the other end, Gianluigi Donnarumma stood firm when called upon.

Despite Madrid edging possession at 51.7%, City proved more clinical with their opportunities. The visitors registered eight shots on target compared to Madrid's solitary effort, underlining their superior finishing on the night. Madrid's 16 corners told the story of their late pressure, but City's defensive resilience, marshaled by Rúben Dias and Josko Gvardiol, held firm through a nervy final 10 minutes.

The turning point came with Haaland's penalty conversion, which shifted the momentum decisively in City's favor. Madrid threw everything forward in the closing stages, with Endrick hitting the crossbar with a header in the 85th minute and Vinícius Júnior missing from close range, but City's defensive discipline never wavered.

Real Madrid will look to bounce back when they travel to face Granada on December 13, desperately needing points to revive their Champions League campaign. Manchester City, meanwhile, host Crystal Palace on December 14, riding high on confidence after this statement victory in the Spanish capital.