Real Madrid 1 Manchester City 2

These are the kind of nights the Champions League is all about. European glamour under the floodlights as Manchester City faced the 13 times European Cup Winners.

As a Manchester City fan these are the types of match that have not cropped up very recently for us.Facing top class opposition in a knock out game, with everything hanging in the balance – including the daunting prospect of a 2 year UEFA ban hanging above the match.

The surprise before kick off was in the team selected by Pep Guardiola who appeared to be starting with a more defensive line up. There was no place for top scorer Sergio Aguero, captain David Silva or Player of the Season candidate Raheem Sterling. Instead Pep went with what seemed to be a 4-5-1 formation but quickly actually appeared to be a false 9 line up.

Ederson was in goal in front of Benjamin Mendy, Aymeric Laporte, Nicolas Otamendi and Kyle Walker. Rodrigo was in defensive midfield with Kevin de Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan in close proximity. Bernardo Silva and Riyad Mahrez joined Gabriel Jesus up front.

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The opening exchanges were tense. City have never beaten Real Madrid and at times it showed, but the whole point of the new City project is that we have to make our own history. The question was whether this was the night to do so.

Madrid settled into dominating the possession of the ball and City looked dangerous at every turnover, but that danger seemed limited by not having players ready to attack. Madrid began to realise that City were posing little threat in this set up and relaxed.

The first shot on goal though fell to City who suddenly went through the gears and De Bruyne released Jesus whose shot was saved by Courtois. Benzema had the next decent chance which required an excellent save from Ederson to keep the ball out.

Benjamin Mendy had his radar off with his passing and tackling and it was not a surprise when he picked up a yellow card, ruling him out of the return fixture.

However, Laporte suffered an injury and had to be withdrawn at 32 minutes, with Fernandinho coming on to replace him. The sight of Laporte going off filled City fans with dread.

In the last minute of the first half City went close again. This time a corner was parried to Jesus who sliced his shot which deflected off Sergio Ramos and had to be cleared off the line. The first half had been fairly evenly poised but in dispensing with their usual style of play, the worry was that perhaps City had given away too much.

The second half started in a similar vein. Cagey play and then a quick City break, which this time saw Mahrez shoot just wide. A long ball forward and again the ball fell to Mahrez, and this time his shot was saved.

Against the run of play, Madrid took the lead in the 59th minute thanks to some customary City defensive sloppiness. Rodrigo and Otamendi combined to give the ball away, Walker missed the chance to clear and Isco slotted home. I knew we should have signed him.

Following the goal Madrid seemed more confident and threatening. Sterling came on for Bernardo Silva and things changed. Sterling and De Bruyne exchanged passes and the ball was whipped in from the left and Jesus rose to head home.

Sterling than ran at the defence and was brought down for a penalty, bringing a sense of dread to every City fan. Up stepped De Bruyne and suddenly City were in front.

Panic set in as City looked like winning. Ramos brought down Jesus who was through on goal and was sent off. Mahrez fluffed the resulting free kick but City held their nerve and secured the win.

This was a great performance. Pep was proved right with his tactics and team selection. City came back from a goal behind to beat Real Madrid for the first time in their history. The second leg looms on the horizon and what a great game that could be.

Right now it is time to bask in the glory of the win. Its great to be a City fan isn’t it?

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