In The Zone: Nico O'Reilly shines in City comeback
Thursday, December 11, 2025
Article summary
UEFA Technical Observer Ole Gunnar Solskjær praises Real Madrid's strong start and the part played by Nico O'Reilly as Manchester City fought back to win on Wednesday night.
Article top media content
Article body
In the aftermath of Manchester City's 2-1 victory at Real Madrid, coach Pep Guardiola observed that his team had played better on previous trips to the Santiago Bernabéu and lost.
On a night when Madrid started well and struck first through Rodrygo, one of the key performers in City's comeback was left-back Nico O'Reilly, who sparked his side to life with the equalising goal then shone with his defensive work.
The following analysis, brought to you by FedEx, will highlight O'Reilly's Player of the Match efforts, though the first feature to focus on is the home side's fast start.
Xabi Alonso praised the "tempo and concentration" of his Madrid team in the period which culminated in Rodrygo's 28th-minute goal, featured above. UEFA Technical Observer Ole Gunnar Solskjær said: "Real were especially dangerous in the first 30 minutes and were rewarded when Rodrygo finished off a fast attack.
"Madrid defended very well in deep positions and made many good transitions off good defensive play, winning the ball off City and going fast into attacks on many occasions," he added.
Guardiola admitted that his team were too "open" to transitions in the opening period. "Madrid were able to run and, when they run, they are very dangerous," he said. "Every time we lost the ball, they punished us, especially with Rodrygo. We couldn't get in the game until the goal."
"He has incredible pace and is so intelligent."
O'Reilly's key role
This brings us to O'Reilly's first Champions League goal, shown above, though his defensive contribution was just as significant – and clip two offers an example of his strong one v one defending against Rodrygo.
Solskjær praised the tactical flexibility displayed by the 20-year-old when Guardiola adjusted his role. "He made O'Reilly become a second central midfielder in possession in the second half, contrary to his more attacking position of rotating with [Jeremy] Doku to either play high and wide or inside-forward," he explained.
"To be able to play in many roles at such a young age makes O'Reilly very valuable for Man City. He also has the physical presence needed to play in these different positions."
This was seen with his driving run forward to set up a double chance just before half-time. "He has incredible pace, he is so intelligent," added Guardiola as he summed up the impact made last night by City's exciting young full-back.
The youngster himself was simply glad to have facilitated the fightback. "In the first few minutes, I was a bit slow – I could have stopped the first goal but I made up for it in the end," he concluded.
A renowned striker who won six Premier League titles at Manchester United, and scored the winner in the 1999 UEFA Champions League final, Ole Gunnar Solskjær steered Molde to two league titles in his native Norway then reached the 2021 UEFA Europa League final as United boss.
More like this
