Erling Haaland’s penalty gave Man City a 2-1 win at Real Madrid, while Arsenal thrashed Club Brugge 3-0 to maintain a perfect group stage record
ERLING HAALAND scored his 34th goal of the season to give Manchester City a 2-1 comeback win at Real Madrid on Wednesday.
The result marked a second consecutive home defeat for Real and increased pressure on coach Xabi Alonso.
Haaland converted a 43rd-minute penalty after VAR intervened for a foul by Antonio Rüdiger.
“It was a bit chaotic, we couldn’t really control it,” Haaland told TNT Sports.
“We get the win in the end, super happy.”
Rodrygo had given Real an early lead with a crisp finish past goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
City equalised just seven minutes later through academy product Nico O’Reilly’s close-range finish.
Real pushed for a late equaliser, with substitute Endrick clipping the crossbar with a header.
“It’s a difficult moment for us and for (Alonso) as well,” said Rodrygo.
“Things aren’t going well… we wanted to show people we’re together with the coach.”
Meanwhile, Arsenal maintained a perfect Champions League record with a 3-0 victory at Club Brugge.
Noni Madueke scored a spectacular long-range strike before adding a simple second after being teed up by Martin Zubimendi.
Gabriel Martinelli curled in a third from outside the box to complete the rout.
“We’re fighting on all fronts,” Madueke told TNT Sports.
“I feel like we can win this competition and win the league, that has to be the aim.”
The win gives Arsenal 18 points and puts them on the brink of securing a top-eight spot and direct qualification for the last 16.
Elsewhere, reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain were held to a 0-0 draw at Athletic Bilbao.
Weston McKennie and Jonathan David scored as Juventus beat Pafos 2-0.
Bayer Leverkusen and Newcastle drew 2-2, as did Borussia Dortmund and Bodo/Glimt.
Benfica, managed by José Mourinho, defeated Antonio Conte’s Napoli 2-0 with goals from Richard Ríos and Leandro Barreiro.
Ajax scored three late goals to win 4-2 at Qarabag, while Villarreal lost 3-2 at home to FC Copenhagen. – AFP
