Manchester City vs. Real Madrid score: De Bruyne, Jesus fire Guardiola's Man City to victory in Spain

City turned this match on its head with two quick goals in six minutes, thanks to Kevin De Bruyne's brilliance

Manchester City came from behind to beat Real Madrid 2-1 in Spain on Wednesday in the first leg of its Champions League round of 16 tie. Los Blancos had gone up 1-0 on the hour-mark thanks to Isco, but two goals in six minutes late in the second half for City turned the tie around with Real doing further damage with Sergio Ramos receiving a late red card. Kevin De Bruyne turned it on in the final 20 minutes by taking over, setting up Gabriel Jesus' equalizer in the 78th minute before Ramos was sent off and then scoring the winner from the penalty marker. 

The loss was Real's first at home against an English club in 11 years and sees Pep Guardiola's side nearly into the quarterfinals on the same day it officially appealed its two-year European ban. Real Madrid now needs to score at least two without conceding if it wants to advance, which will be a tall task with Eden Hazard out for months with an ankle injury.

In the Santiago Bernabeu, neither scored in the first half but just when it felt like City was close, Real bounced on the mistakes with Isco scoring this goal in the 60th minute:

The lead lasted just 18 minutes as Guardiola brought on Raheem Sterling, who got De Bruyne the ball in space before he made a move and set up Jesus for this header inside the box:

Real argued that Jesus pushed Sergio Ramos in the back and that the goal shouldn't stand, but it was confirmed as a goal moments later to give City a vital away goal.

They weren't done there. Just six minutes later, Sterling again made his mark, winning a penalty kick after being taken down in the box by Dani Carvajal. De Bruyne beat his Belgium national team goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois to secure the 2-1 victory. 

Real finished with just three shots on goal in this one and faces an uphill battle at the Etihad for the return leg on March 17.

Real Madrid 1, Manchester City 2 (FT) 

⚽ Real Madrid - Isco (60')
⚽ Manchester City - Gabriel Jesus (78')
⚽ Manchester City - (P) Kevin de Bruyne (83')

[Feb 26, 2020 at 5:05 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

City's winning goal

[Feb 26, 2020 at 4:53 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

It's over in Spain!

Manchester City roars back in the final 15 minutes and wins 2-1 at Real Madrid. A double blow for Real with Sergio Ramos' red card. Advantage, City.

[Feb 26, 2020 at 4:50 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Ramos sees red

[Feb 26, 2020 at 4:42 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Goal City!

83' De Bruyne puts it away! He scores the penalty kick by sending Courtois the other way. His penalty is placed perfectly into the left side of the goal. 2-1 City.

[Feb 26, 2020 at 4:41 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Penalty to City!

80' Sterling goes down inside the box as Carvajal challenges. Looks like a clear penalty. And it stands. 

[Feb 26, 2020 at 4:32 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Real Madrid's goal

[Feb 26, 2020 at 4:19 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Goal Real Madrid!

60' Los Blancos strike first! As City looked like more of a threat, the hosts go up 1-0 with Isco scoring! Modric does well to get the ball back, it deflects forward and Vinicius gets on it, sets up Isco with a past to split defenders, and the Spanish midfielder beats Ederson. It's his first goal in the competition this season.

[Feb 26, 2020 at 4:13 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Second half underway in Spain

45 minutes to go!

[Feb 26, 2020 at 3:44 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Real's big chance

[Feb 26, 2020 at 3:34 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Injury issue for City

33' Aymeric Laporte is coming off with an injury. H'es limping off as Fernandinho comes on. Remember, Fernandinho is naturally a central defensive midfielder who has played a bit of centerback. 

[Feb 26, 2020 at 3:33 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

A brilliant save by Ederson

30' That was nearly the opener for Real Madrid! A great ball into the box finds Benzema, and his header goes far post, but just before it looked headed into the back of the net, Ederson knocks it away! Vinicius slips on the rebound. Two golden chances. 

[Feb 26, 2020 at 3:31 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

City's Mendy suspended for second leg 

City LB Mendy will miss the second leg after getting a yellow card in this match. He was the only player at risk of being suspended with just a caution in this game.

[Feb 26, 2020 at 3:30 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

City knocking on the door

28' A brilliant bit of play by City as Mendy plays the ball to the top of the box to Mahrez who first-times it to De Bruyne in the box, but his shot is wasteful. It comes nowhere close and felt closer to going into the upper deck.

[Feb 26, 2020 at 3:22 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Courtois denies Gabriel Jesus!

21' It's a fantastic save by Courtois! Gabriel Jesus is played in by De Bruyne inside the left part of the box, and the Jesus makes a fine move to get space but he goes for power over placement, and the Belgian goalkeeper makes the save! Kicked it right at him!

[Feb 26, 2020 at 3:21 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

No shots on goal in Real-City

20' Nearing the half hour mark in Madrid and each team has one shot but none have been on frame. City has played all 11 guys behind the ball deep in its final third to try and defend, looking to go on the counter. 

[Feb 26, 2020 at 3:12 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Still feeling this one out

11' City and Real locked in a chess match at the moment. Not a whole lot happening -- just low, short passes as each team is looking like its waiting for the other to make a mistake.

[Feb 26, 2020 at 3:08 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Real controlling possession

7' Both teams are sitting deep defensively. City looked like a threat in the opening minute before things calmed down with Real slowing it down. No real chances yet.

[Feb 26, 2020 at 3:03 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Underway in Spain!

The match has gotten underway in Spain! Real in white, City in black.

[Feb 26, 2020 at 2:56 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Five minutes until kickoff

Not long to go now at the Santiago Bernabeu. The teams are expected on the field in moments for the anthem and then kickoff. 

[Feb 26, 2020 at 2:45 pm ET · Stephen Pianovich]

Looking for a better trip

City's last visit to Spain wasn't a good one, losing 4-0 to Barcelona in the Champions League group stage. That result was the team's worst defeat in UEFA history. City has only won two of its 10 matches in Spain, losing seven of them in their short history in European competition.

[Feb 26, 2020 at 2:35 pm ET · Stephen Pianovich]

History is against Man City

The club has never won a knockout game away to a Spanish team in UEFA competition history, drawing one and losing four. That doesn't bode well for City here, but Real Madrid at times has struggled at home and hasn't hosted a team of City's attacking ability just yet. Plenty of goals to come?

[Feb 26, 2020 at 2:00 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Manchester City team news

City's lineup is in! Sergio Aguero, David Silva and Raheem Sterling all start on the bench in this one. Bernardo Silva and Gabriel Jesus lead the attack.

[Feb 26, 2020 at 1:58 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Real Madrid team news

Los Blancos' team news is in! No real surprises outside maybe Vinicius Jr. getting the start up top, but that's with Eden Hazard out. Gareth Bale, Marcelo, and Toni Kroos are on the bench. It's certainly a move defensive midfield with Valverde and Casemiro.

[Feb 26, 2020 at 1:44 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Potential suspensions

Benjamin Mendy of Manchester City will miss the second leg if he receives a yellow card during this match, but other than that no other player is at risk of missing the return leg with just a caution in this game.

[Feb 26, 2020 at 1:23 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Who is missing?

Real Madrid is without two players for this game as Marcos Asensio misses due to match fitness and Eden Hazard is out with an ankle injury. For City, Leroy Sane is out due to match fitness, according to UEFA. 

[Feb 26, 2020 at 12:54 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Real Madrid's form

Here's Real's form since the group stage concluded with the most recent games from left to right. The last match for Real was a shocking 1-0 loss at Levante this past weekend in La Liga, dropping the club out of first place with Barcelona taking the top spot. 

LDWLWWWWDWWDDD

Manchester City's form

Here's Manchester City's form since the group stage concluded with the last match being a 1-0 win at Leicester City this past weekend in a battle of the Premier League's No. 2 team vs. No. 3.

WWLLWWDWWWWWLWWW

[Feb 26, 2020 at 12:44 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Pep Guardiola's comments

Man. City's manager spoke to the media on Tuesday and said luck will be a factor in this one.

"We have to be strong, have quality and need to have luck," Guardiola said. "You need incredible concentration in our game and game plan, plus try to be a little lucky."

[Feb 26, 2020 at 12:44 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Zidane on today's game

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane spoke to the media on Tuesday and said this isn't about him versus Pep Guardiola -- it's much more than that.

 "Just because we've had a couple of poor results, it doesn't mean we're doing that badly," Zidane said. "This game is Madrid vs. City, it's not Guardiola vs. Zidane. It's a football match - that's what people want to see. We're happy because these are the games we want to play in, and we're ready to do a great job. Loads of teams like to have the ball. They are a team full of strengths and we have to counteract what they do well. We won't change, we're going to focus on what we're interested in doing."

[Feb 26, 2020 at 12:08 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Viewing info

Date: Wednesday, Feb. 26 | Time: 3 p.m. ET
Location: Santiago Bernabeu -- Madrid, Spain
TV: TNT and UniMas | Live stream: fuboTV (Try for free) 

[Feb 26, 2020 at 12:08 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Odds

According to the William Hill Sportsbook, here are the odds for the match today. 
Real Madrid +175; Draw +275; Man. City +140