Manchester City and Real Madrid faced off in a Champions League match that included several noteworthy incidents and performances.
Doku’s Impact and Haaland’s Missed Opportunity
Doku made a significant impact after entering the area, proving to be Manchester City’s best player. He evaded Thiago Pitarch on the touchline and delivered a pass that Haaland met with a weak shot, which still managed to find its way into Courtois’s net.
Doku also sent a ball across the face of the goal. However, Haaland failed to anticipate the pass, and a Real Madrid defender cleared the danger.
Controversy Surrounds Bernardo’s Challenge on Vinicius
Bernardo attempted to prevent a shot from Vinicius, pulling his arms back but making contact with his elbow. Some observers felt that the contact gave Real Madrid an advantage.
Vinicius’s attacking threat
Vinicius took five shots during the match. This was the first time he had taken so many shots in a Champions League match since facing Benfica on 17 February 2026 when he took six.
Brahim also had a chance, but his shot was saved.
Tactical Observations
One observer questioned the decision to start Dani Carvajal. A Moroccan player showed skill, turning past Rúben Dias, but his shot was saved by Donnarumma.
Real Madrid realised they were still Real Madrid in Europe during the first leg. According to one view, the team realised that any problems would be for their opponents. That source argues that even if Real Madrid have had a bad year, they can still overwhelm teams in March.
Arda Güler and Rúben Dias received warnings. The former for holding onto the ball after a foul was called for the English side, and the latter for kicking a Real Madrid player.
A shot from the edge of the area by an English player went close to the top corner.
A French midfielder’s long-range shot ended up in Donnarumma’s hands.
Vinicius has 14 goals and 11 assists this season. In the Champions League, he has four goals and five assists.
One observer speculated that Bayern should be worried about facing Real Madrid, even though they felt Real Madrid play without much skill and rely on Courtois’s saves.