Vinicius Junior's injury-time winner sealed a dramatic 2-1 UEFA Champions League victory for Real Madrid over 10-man Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
Real Madrid secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over Manchester City on March 17, 2026. Vinicius Junior was the hero, scoring twice including a late strike to seal a memorable UEFA Champions League triumph. This result saw the Spanish giants leave Manchester with all three points.
This highly anticipated Champions League group stage clash pitted two European heavyweights against each other. Manchester City entered the match with 10 points from five games. Real Madrid held a slight edge, sitting on 12 points and looking to extend their lead at the top.
The match exploded into life early, taking a dramatic turn in the 20th minute. Manchester City's Bernardo Silva received a direct red card for handling the ball inside the box. This left the home side facing a significant challenge with ten men.
From the resulting penalty, Vinicius Junior stepped up confidently. He coolly converted the spot-kick in the 22nd minute, giving Real Madrid the lead. Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola then received a yellow card for unsportsmanlike conduct just three minutes later.
Despite being a man down, Manchester City showed remarkable resilience. They pressed for an equalizer. Their efforts paid off in the 41st minute when Erling Haaland fired home, leveling the score before halftime. Abdukodir Khusanov also picked up a yellow card in added time for an elbowing incident.
At halftime, Manchester City needed to regroup and maintain their defensive shape. Real Madrid aimed to exploit their numerical advantage more effectively in the second period. The stage was set for a tense finish.
Both teams made changes at the break. Real Madrid brought on Andriy Lunin for Thibaut Courtois in goal. Manchester City introduced Rúben Dias and Tijjani Reijnders, making tactical adjustments.
The second half continued with high intensity. Manchester City surprisingly substituted goal scorer Erling Haaland in the 57th minute. Oscar Marmoush entered the fray, signaling a shift in attack. Real Madrid pushed forward, seeking a decisive goal.
Late drama unfolded as the game approached its conclusion. In the 90+1 minute, Vinicius Junior thought he had scored his second, but VAR disallowed the goal for offside. The Etihad crowd roared with a mixture of relief and frustration.
However, Vinicius Junior would not be denied for long. Just two minutes later, in the 90+3 minute, he netted his second goal of the night. Aurélien Tchouaméni provided the assist, guiding a pass to Vinicius who slotted it home for a dramatic Real Madrid winner.
Real Madrid edged possession with 52% to City's 48%. While Manchester City had more total shots (22 to 13), Real Madrid's clinical edge was evident. They also had a higher expected goals (xG) of 2.29 compared to City's 1.91. Goalkeepers Gianluigi Donnarumma and the Real Madrid duo (Courtois/Lunin) made 4 and 7 saves respectively.
This hard-fought victory sees Real Madrid consolidate their position in the Champions League group. Manchester City will reflect on the early red card and their inability to secure a point. This result significantly impacts both teams' progression in the competition.
