Chapter 106: Real Madrid vs Man City- Fire at the Bernabeu
D-day was here.
The Madrid-Man City clash was here, and the world held its breath.
If yesterday all eyes focused in Paris for the blockbuster clash between the Catalan giants and the Parisian giants, this time, all eyes focused in Madrid as the Spanish Capital giants took on the Manchester Kings.
Yesterday was Spain vs France, today was Spain vs England.
The Santiago Bernabéu pulsed with electricity. White flags rippled like waves across the stadium stands as chants thundered against the steel walls of Madrid’s spaceship-like fortress, and banners unfurled across the stands.
["REYES DE EUROPA."]
In English, it translated to "Kings of Europe".
This was Real Madrid’s nickname when it came to their stage, the UEFA Champions League, and it was a testament to their dominance and multiple victories in European club football.
In the end, no matter what was happening at the present, Real Madrid were still out and out the undisputed Kings of the UEFA Champions League.
With 15 trophies to their name, the next big club on the list trailed by less than half of their overall tally.
So, their fanbase had the right to be arrogant at this stage. The stage was theirs, but today, Manchester City came to their home to challenge their tyranny.
Tonight, their kingdom faced its most relentless invader.
The official lineups were released ahead of time.
Real Madrid started in their typical 4-3-3 under Xabi Alonso with Courtois in goal, while ahead of him was the defensive quadruple of Alexander Arnold, Rudiger, Dean Huijsen, and Alvaro Carreras.
The midfield comprised Valverde, Bellingham, and Arda Guler, while the attacking trio were the dynamic trio of Rodrygo, Mbappe, and Vinicius.
For Manchester City, they also started in Pep Guardiola’s favored 4-3-3 with Ederson in goal, while ahead of him was the defensive quadruple of Kyle Walker, Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardio, and Nathan Ake.
In midfield was the trio of Rodri, Phil Foden, and Tijjani Rjeinders, while the attacking trio comprised Jeremy Doku, Erling Haaland, and Omar Marmoush.
On paper, both sides were blockbuster sides, star-studded. On paper, the game was poised to be one for the ages.
The only question was, would the game live up to its hype? Only time would tell. And then...
FWEEEE!
The referee’s whistle cut through the noise, and the war began.
Madrid struck first.
As early as the 4th minute, they struck as Valverde intercepted the ball in midfield and quickly snapped it to Bellingham, who rolled his marker with silky skill.
With elegance, the Englishman quickly fed Vinicius on the wing who accelerated like lightning down the left, leaving Walker scrambling. The Brazilian chopped inside and squared it low into the box, towards... Mbappé!
The Frenchman struck first-time with venom.
POW!
But Ederson parried, and yet Man City was not safe as Rodrygo pounced, slamming the rebound into the net.
GOAL!
1–0 MADRID!
The Bernabéu erupted as Rodrygo sprinted to the corner flag, arms outstretched, the stadium bouncing with white fury.
It was the worst ending that Man City could have ever hoped for.
Pep Guardiola paced his technical area, his face unreadable as he rubbed his bald head, his eyes burning. He clapped furiously, gesturing for calm.
City didn’t panic, they never do.
And then, the Pep Guardiola machine responded.
In the 10th minute, Phil Foden drifted inside from the right, his first touch flawless as he threaded a dangerous pass into Haaland’s feet.
The Norwegian avoided Rudiger and bulldozed past Huijsen with insulting ease, muscling the youngster aside like he was made of paper. One touch, then a left-footed cannon did it.
POW!
The shot nearly tore the net open.
GOAL CITY!
1–1!
The away end exploded, sky blue shirts bouncing as Haaland raised a single fist to the Madrid crowd, his expression icy in provocation.
The Madrid crowd responded with boos.
"ERLING HALAAND! INEVITABLE!" The commentator screamed. "CITY STRIKE BACK IN AN INSTANT!"
From there, the game tilted into insanity.
In the 16th minute, Reijnders whipped a pass to Jeremy Doku, whose curling effort forced Courtois into a fingertip save.
Just 3 minutes later in the 19th minute, Mbappé burned Dias for pace and squared to Bellingham, whose curling effort missed by inches.
In the 22nd minute, Omar Marmoush spun away from Mendy and floated a ball to Foden, who volleyed! But the shot came off the crossbar!
The Bernabéu gasped, then roared louder.
The atmosphere in the stadium was absolutely electric, but then Madrid fury struck again in the 28th minute.
Valverde surged forward, lungs bursting, before releasing Trent Alexander-Arnold on the overlap. The Englishman’s whipped cross was inch perfect as it cut through City’s defense like a hot knife through butter.
Vinícius rose at the back post, towering over Walker, and powered a header into the corner, a sight you rarely see in football.
Ederson was beaten at his near post.
GOAL!
2-1 MADRID!
The stadium shook, the chants cascading like thunder as Vinícius sprinted toward the fans with exuberant energy, celebrating wildly as he beat the badge on his chest, screaming into the night.
"VINÍÍÍCIUS JUNIOR!" The commentator screamed in a gradually shrill voice. "THE BERNABÉU EXPLODES AGAIN!"
On the touchline, Pep Guardiola’s jaw clenched as he began scribbling furiously in his notepad.
But City didn’t crumble, they respond with precision through the new Etihad man, Tijanni Reijnders.
In the 35th minute, Marmoush pirouetted past Valverde in midfield, before sliding it to Rodri. The Spaniard took one touch, then laid it off to Reijnders.
The enigmatic midfielder didn’t hesitate. From 25 yards out, he unleashed a rocket that tore through the Bernabeu air.
POW!
This was clearly a game of rockets as the ball soared, bending past Courtois, and smashing into the top corner with venom.
GOAL CITY! 2–2!
BOOM!
The away end went mad.
Tijjani Reijnders raised both arms calmly, soaking in the boos, his face the picture of icy defiance.
The commentator lost his voice. "TIJJANI REIJNDERS! WHAT A STRIKE!"
"A STRIKE OF PURE VIOLENCE! THE BERNABÉU IS STUNNED, BUT THIS IS CITY’S DNA, THEY WILL NOT DIE!"
It was end to end carnage as the half spiraled into chaos.
By the 39th minute, Mbappé’s burst left Dias scrambling to recover, but his low shot was tipped wide by Ederson.
In the 41st minute, Man City responded as Foden danced past Huijsen with elegant grace, but his curling effort smashed off the post.
Just 2 minutes later in the 43rd minute, Vinícius Jnr. went on a rampage as he ripped past Walker again before squaring to Rodrygo, but his tap in was saved by Ederson’s legs!
The game tempo was borderline ridiculous at this point.
Every attack felt like it could end in a goal. The fans barely had time to breathe as they paid attention to every single move.
But then, the referee finally blew his whistle.
FWEEEE!
The scoreboard glowed in bold white letters.
[HALF-TIME: Real Madrid 2 – 2 Manchester City]
The Bernabéu stood, roaring applause, not just for their own, but for the sheer spectacle of football being witnessed.
Players trudged off the pitch, sweat pouring and lungs burning.
Reijnders exchanged a sharp glance with Bellingham, a glance of acknowledgement. On another side, Haaland brushed past Rüdiger with a smirk. Vinícius and Mbappé bumped fists, nodding grimly at each other.
This was an unforgettable spectacle of two giants locked in combat.
And the second half promised even greater fire.