Manchester City 1-1 Real Madrid: Women’s Champions League – as it happened
Madrid started superbly, taking the lead through Linda Caicedo, but City came back well and deserved Bunny Shaw’s fine equaliser

10.12pm BST
Righto, here’s Tom Garry’s report.
Related: Shaw secures WCL draw against Real Madrid as Manchester City show spirit after week of turmoil
Which means that’s it from me. Thanks for your company, and peace out.
10.11pm BST
Madrid, I think, need a little more variety in their approach. When City stepped-to, they struggled to take heat out of the game, or reverse momentum, though they were still a danger – as they always be, given the players they have. I’m excited to see how Senss develops, while Linda and Schroder are extremely serious, but a bit more ballast and a bit better game management will make then a much better team.
10.05pm BST
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10.03pm BST
Bunny Shaw is happy enough with the point. She explains she tries to stay calm in the box, her team look for her, and she knows where the goal is. If the opposing centre-backs give her time and space, she can get a shot off.
In the first half, City sat off too much but in the second, they pressed better and if they’d done that from the start, the result would’ve been different.
Updated at 10.03pm BST
10.00pm BST
Related: Dan James and Neco Williams sink Norway to reward revitalised Wales
10.00pm BST
The league table 9.57pm BST
Elsewhere, it finished PSG 5-0 Leuven.
9.56pm BST
Both sides drew their first game, so a settling win would’ve been helpful, but both are more than good enough to progress.
9.53pm BST
Also going on:
Related: Wales 2-1 Norway, Denmark 2-4 Portugal, Ireland game interrupted by Palestine protests: Nations League – live
9.52pm BST
FULL TIME: Manchester City 1-1 Real Madrid Well played everyone, teams and ref, and a fair result.
9.52pm BST
90+4 min A ball into the Madrid box and Hemp is underneath it, but she can’t quite bring it down.
9.51pm BST
90+1 min It’s been less good in the last 15, but a tremendous game overall.
9.50pm BST
90 min We’ll have three additional minutes.
9.49pm BST
89 min A cross into the box is cleared, Mead bumps into the ref and, coming up behind her, Cristobasl finishes superbly, but the goal is disallowed because of course it is. Madrid disagree, but the call was made before the shot was even taken. I’m not totally certain Mead was stopping that, but you’ve got to err on the side of caution, I think. I wonder if the City fans still think the ref is a dizgraze.
9.46pm BST
87 min Tom Garry returns:
The Man City fans are growing increasingly frustrated now, predominantly at the referee – ‘Give your head a wobble, referee! Disgraceful” one shouts, after the latest free-kick is awarded Real Madrid’s way. In reality, though, this has felt like a very even contest and either side could pinch it.
I think the ref has done a really good job, in control of the game without having to impose herself.
9.45pm BST
86 min Coffey and Wamser both have shots blocked, then Mead backheels to no one and Madrid bring the ball away.
9.43pm BST
84 min I’ve really enjoyed the confidence the Madrid players have to take the ball. Physically, I don’t think they’re at City’s level, but technically they’ve been superior, their play also more imaginative.
9.41pm BST
84 min Madrid send on Bruun for Caicedo.
9.41pm BST
83 min Wamser weaves through midfield but runs out of space so the ref pulls play back for a foul on her.
9.40pm BST
82 min It’s a bit scrappy now, the players who started tiring, neither side keen to lose and both desperate to win.
9.38pm BST
80 min Now it’s City pushing Madrid back, but Linda wins a free-kick deep inside her own half and Madrid clear.
9.36pm BST
78 min The corner misses everyone and City build once more.
9.35pm BST
77 min Now Madrid look the stronger side, Keukelaar breezing by Wamser down the outside and cutting back for Dorado, who sweeps a first-time shot … that Yamsashita beats away, then Linda wins a corner down the right.
9.33pm BST
75 min This has been one of the best games I’ve seen this season and City win a corner down the right, Greenwood’s cross headed weakly away and Hasegawa is again underneath it, but again volleys wide of the near post.
9.32pm BST
74 min Linda runs in behind and Beerensteyn slides into a challenge to poke her though, unloading Greenwood. Yamashita, though, amkes a fine save, then the flag goes up for offside.
9.30pm BST
72 min Another change for City, Charles replacing Casparij.
9.28pm BST
70 min Hemp’s been excellent in the second half, isolating Lakrar and moving backwards to then spring forwards, her cross picking out Mead … who heads over the top.
9.27pm BST
69 min I was a little surprised Madrid took of Schroder, but not as surprised as I was that City changed anything – they were dominating.
9.27pm BST
68 min Madrid send on dorado for Caruso, then the corner comes to nowt.
9.26pm BST
68 min The changes have, so far, worked better for Madrid, Linda slipping into the box for Caruso, whose shot is blocked behind by a sliding Greenwood.
9.25pm BST
66 min Caruso wins it high sand feeds Linda, left side of the box, who gets by Coffey on the outside only to fire wide of the far post.
9.23pm BST
64 min Three changes apiece: City try Mead, Coffey and Clinton for Fowler, Blinkilde Brown and Fujino, while Madrid go Beerensteyn, Dabritz and Keukelaar for Schroder, Jacinto and Athenea.
9.21pm BST
62 min Wamser into Hasegawa, who lays back for Hemp, and though her shot is blocked, City sustain the attack, Hemp drifting left to stand up a cross that Shaw can’t quite get at.
9.19pm BST
61 min The ball goes short to Caicedo, who shimmies past her defender with humiliating ease, but her floated cross is flicked away by Shaw, whose work in her own box has been excellent.
9.18pm BST
60 min Madrid try to take heat out of the game, slowing it down, but they’ve lost all momentum, and I wonder if half-time allowed them to tire. Physically, they don’t look as strong, and without that base, it’s hard to impose technical play. They do, though, have a corner…
9.15pm BST
58 min Madrid do have the option of playing long into Schroder, but they need players around her if that’s what they’re going to try.
9.15pm BST
57 min We’ve seen almost nothing of Madrid as an attacking force this half; City are locking on and stopping them from playing.
9.14pm BST
56 min Blinkilde Brown is an increasing influence, charging through midfield and finding Shaw, who touches off delightfully to Hemp. The eventuating cross misses everyone, but it was a lovely move.
9.13pm BST
53 min I reckon Jeglertz’s team talk was more about attitude and aggression than tactics and positioning. City were too reactive in the first half, allowing Madrid to dictate the game as protagonists, whereas now they’re playing proactively.
9.11pm BST
GOAL! Manchester City 1-1 Real Madrid (Shaw 51) Cristobal clears and Hasegawa snaps into a challenge to win the ball high, before taking it back from Blinkilde Brown and feeding Shaw inside the box, right of centre. She has time to turn and does, slapping a shot across Frohms and into the far side-netting, a fine finish. City are asserting themselves physically now, getting to the ball quicker and powering through challenges; they’re much the better for it.
Manchester City’s Khadija Shaw scores their equaliser. Photograph: Martin Rickett/PA Updated at 9.43pm BST
9.09pm BST
50 min City are, I think, trying to assert themselves physically, inviting duels, and they force the ball out to Hemp, whose cross is deflected into the air and Hasegawa is underneath it, eight yards out … but volleys wide of the near post. That was a chance.
9.06pm BST
48 min Fujino to Fowler, out to Casparij, whose cross is excellent, but to no one.
9.06pm BST
47 min Caruso loops a ball over the top and Schroder is underneath it – she’s so good at making sure things fall to her – but her snatched shot is saved, and the whistle then blows for a foul.
9.05pm BST
46 min What, if anything, will Jeglertz change? Dare City press high, or will that offer too much space to a team adept at finding it?
9.03pm BST
46 min We go again, no changes to either team.
8.59pm BST
Elsewhere: it’s PSG 1-0 Leuven.
8.50pm BST
Related: Wales v Norway, Denmark v Portugal, Germany v Serbia: Nations League – live
8.49pm BST
HALF-TIME: Manchester City 0-1 Real Madrid Madrid have been excellent, moving the ball with speed, purpose and aggression. City have had their moments, but been second-best.
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45+2 min Wamser into Hasegawa whose cunning flick finds Hemp. Her low cross, though, is behind Shaw, and that’ll be the last meaningful action of the half.
8.47pm BST
45 min We’ll have two additional minutes. Given the two head-bangs and the goal, that feels too little.
8.44pm BST
43 min Fowler slams a hoof into Rose’s phizog, so there’s another pause while she sorts herself out.
8.43pm BST
42 min The corner causes minor confusion, then the ref blows for an infringement that isn’t obviously apparent, and Madrid clear long, playing for half-time.
8.42pm BST
40 min City pin Madrid back and find Shaw inside the box. She holds off Andersson then lays back for Hasegawa, who shoots hard … but Lakrar sticks her swede in the way at cost of a corner. That was excellent and brave defending; unsurprisingly, she needs a minute to recover.
8.39pm BST
38 min Better from City, Fujino spreading for Wamser, who wears a late challenge as the ref signals play-on, and the ball is sent infield and to the edge, where Fowler’s touch … is poor.
8.37pm BST
36 min City need a rethink here. How do Hasegawa and Blinkilde Brown find the ball? And if they can’t, might it be worth Shaw running channels and the midfield pushing up to contest second balls?
8.36pm BST
34 min You’ve got to laugh: with a player able to attack the space in behind, Portugal are scoring goals, Bruno Fermandes combining with Goncalo Ramos to create him a beauty, and they lead 2-1 in Denmark.
Related: Wales v Norway, Denmark v Portugal, Germany v Serbia: Nations League – live
Updated at 8.40pm BST
8.34pm BST
32 min Madrid, of course, have el clasico at the weekend. If they play like this, they’ll cause Barca problems.
8.34pm BST
GOAL! Manchester City 0-1 Real Madrid (Caicedo 30) Blinkilde Brown presses when she shouldn’t and Caicedo runs off her, Navarro able to sticks a simple pass in behind, down the right. Caicedo sets off towards the box, too quick for Blinkilde Brown, and when Greenwood eventually chugs over, she feints to come inside on to her favoured left foot, creating the space to drag a shot into the far corner with her right. Expert work, and no more than Madrid deserve for the way they’ve taken the game to City.
Updated at 8.44pm BST
8.31pm BST
28 min Now City attack, Fujino measuring a lovely loft to the back stick, where Shaw pulls off Andersson, looping a header back the way it came … and Frohms tips over, the corner coming to nowt.
8.29pm BST
27 min Madrid are winning it high and Carruso spreads for Cristobal, who crosses, and though it’s headed clear, Senss is first to the second ball, sliding in to win it – that’s the kind of desire City need to show – and it finds Schroder, so good at finding space, and she turns, shoots … but Yamashita blocks.
Updated at 8.29pm BST
8.27pm BST
25 min Our man in the ground, Tom Garry, messages thusly:
A lone Man City fan has just sang ‘Sheikh Mansour, my lord, Sheikh Mansour, oh lord, Sheikh Mansour’, to the tune of Kum ba yah. As far as I could tell, nobody else joined in. There has also been a small group of home fans in the corner defiantly chanting about ‘City going down with a billion the bank’. In general, though, the atmosphere is pretty quiet here.
8.26pm BST
23 min Better from City and first flash of Fujino, using her body to turn Senss in midfield; Senss slides off somewhere towards Blackley, Fujino slipping down the near side for Shaw, who turns into a shot … and the ball rears up of Lakrar, allowing Frohms to catch
8.23pm BST
22 min The corner comes to nowt and it’s clear that City have the edge in that department; Greenwood has nailed both of her wide deliveries and, though Madrid are playing the better gear, that might wind up being the key to the game.
8.22pm BST
20 min Madrid are controlling midfield with invention and intelligence – in the way I expected Hasegawa and Fujino to, if I’m honest. But we’ve hardly seen either and, as I type, Linda finds Caruso, whose cross hits Wamser on the back and lands at the feet of Schroder, who spins, shoots low … and Yamashita blocks behind.
8.19pm BST
18 min A long period of Madrid possession, then Senss suddenly injects pace, slipping a fine pass inside Wamser for Navarro, and Schroder is in the middle … but the low cross is just behind her. That’s a let-off for City,
8.17pm BST
16 min Linda intercepts a clearance and lifts a cross-kick out to Athenea … whose control is poor, allowing the ball to dribble behind for a goalkick.
8.14pm BST
14 min This is a terrific contest so far, both sides looking to move the ball and attack at speed.
Updated at 8.22pm BST
8.14pm BST
13 min Looking again at Fowler’s header, she got slightly under it, sending the ball on an upwards trajectory. Had she got over it and made that contact, it was in.
8.13pm BST
11 min City have settled and win a corner, Greenwood’s delivery again excellent and Wamser’s shot blocked.
8.11pm BST
10 min Greenwood swings a beauty out to the back post, Fowler up way above Caruso, and her contact is perfect, brow meeting ball and sending it hurtling against the crossbar, down … on to the line … and out. Goodness me, I can’t believe that didn’t find its way into the net.
Updated at 8.34pm BST
8.10pm BST
8 min City build from the back, Madrid allowing them time before pressing when the ball comes into midfield. A flick from Hemp, though, and Wamser is away, finding Shaw out on the left, and Senss knocks her over. Free-kick City, Greenwood to take.
8.08pm BST
7 min Madrid continue knocking it about, but a pass in behind from Sess asks too much of Jacinto, running behind.
8.07pm BST
5 min Back come Madrid, Linda winning a corner off Rose; they’re moving it quicker than City, who are looking to be a little more patient. Anyhow, the corner goes shot and, when the cross comes in, Shaw heads Caruso’s cross away and Jacinto butchers high.
8.05pm BST
4 min Madrid are moving it quickly and confidently, making City chase. But then they give it away and Shaw holds, finding Blinkilde Brown. Then, when the cross comes in, a ricochet sees the ball loop up, but Shaw can’t quite get her head on it.
Updated at 8.05pm BST
8.03pm BST
2 min Madrid are taking it to City, Linda running at the defence before losing possession. Already, there’s a good tempo to proceedings.
8.03pm BST
1 min Immediately, Wamser sells Greenwood short, and Schroder, espying Yamashita off her line, snaps a rising shot from out on the right … which flies high. It was a difficult chance but, at the same time, if it’s on target, it’s in.
8.01pm BST
1 min Away we go!
7.56pm BST
…and here they come!
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Our teams are tunnelled…
7.50pm BST
Those Madrid outfits and accessories. I can’t say I love the strides.
7.47pm BST
So where is the game? City will, I think, look to dominate in midfield, moving the ball quickly with the full-backs opffering width, especially on the right, and Shaw constantly challenging the last line, but peeling off for aerial crosses.
I doubt Madrid think they’re able to beat City at City’s game, so they’ll look to counter, keeping their front three up the field; the question is how they get the ball to them. But if they can, they’ll look to play into Schroder, with Linda and Athenea running off her, so she can spin and race into the box.
7.43pm BST
Related: Andy Burnham’s Manchester City comments stir fresh tensions with Premier League
7.38pm BST
Oh my days, Inter have just equalised in the final seconds of injury time. FAK deserved a point or better against Chelsea, and this is a proper sickener.
7.35pm BST
We’re playing injury time in the two early games, in which it’s Austria Wien 1-0 inter and Køgø 5-1 Servette.
7.31pm BST
Also going on:
Related: Wales v Norway, Denmark v Portugal, Germany v Serbia: Nations League – live
7.30pm BST
City look to have the edge over Madrid in midfield, the invention of Hasegawa and Fujino backed up by the industry of Blinkilde Brown. I’d expect Senss, Jacinto and Caruso to play closer together, to avoid being passed around, but they’ll also need to spring to begin attacks; not an easy balance to strike.
7.22pm BST
I’m really looking forward to the battle between Casparij and Caicedo. I reckon City will want Casparij to get forward and see if Caicedo will follow her, or cheat by staying upfield. If she has the run of the right flank, she can stand crosses up for Shaw, and I’d fancy her against the Madrid defence.
7.16pm BST
Two changes for Madrid too, Athenea and Silvia Cristobal coming in for Janou Levels and Lotte Keuklaar.
7.13pm BST
City make two changes to the side that drew at Bayern – they rested players for the 1- win at Charlton last weekend – with Sam Coffey and Beth Mead replaced by Mary Fowler and Laura Blindkilde Brown.
7.10pm BST
Teams! Manchester City (4-2-3-1): Yamashita; Casparij, Rose, Greenwood, Wamser; Blindkilde Brown, Hasegawa; Fowler Fujino, Hemp; Shaw. Subs: Cumings, Moorhouse, Clinton, Mead, Coffey, Charles, Beney, Prior, Lewis, Burdon.
Real Madrid (4-3-3): Frohms; Eva Navarro, Lakrar, Andersson, Silvia Cristobal; Arianna Caruso, Senss, Andreia Jacinto; Athenea, Schroder, Linda Caicedo. Subs: Laia Lopez, Noemi, Pau Comendador, Keukelaar, Dabritz, Bruun, Beerensteyn, Maria Mendez, Irune Dorado, Angeldahl, Holmgaard, San Martin.
Updated at 7.13pm BST
7.05pm BST
Elsewhere, the PSG hoodies are a belting shade of blue; I’ll investigate photos presently.
7.03pm BST
Madrid have turned up with team-issue Louis Vuitton gear, apparently. In the Disney studio, they’re impressed.
Updated at 7.14pm BST
7.00pm BST
Preamble “Business as usual,” reckons City manager Andree Jeglertz, which is not the usual way of describing a Champions League tie with Real Madrid. However, though it remains unknown whether the, er … turmoil affecting the men’s side will transfer to the women, these are not usual times.
But football never stops, and this match should be an absolute rip-snorter. City, of course, were the club to finally break Chelsea’s absurd streak of six WSL titles on the spin and, with a front three of Beth Mead, Bunny Shaw and Lauren Hemp, served by Aoba Fujino and Yui Hasegawa, they’ll take some stopping.
On the other hand, Bayern Munich almost managed it on matchday one, taking a two-goal lead and succumbing to a draw thanks only to an 86th-minute equaliser – and they did not have Linda Caicedo in their XI. The Madrid forward is a wonderful player of practicality and fantasy, good enough to dominate or settle any game; for her team to win, she’ll need to be at it, but there’s every chance she is.
Kick-off: 8pm BST
Updated at 8.00pm BST

