Manchester City got their Champions League campaign back on track against Real Madrid, and it was a memorable night for Nico O’Reilly.
After the weekend Premier League win over Sunderland, Pep Guardiola named an unchanged starting XI against the Spanish giants, which was welcomed by fans.
City supporters thought Guardiola showed arrogance against Bayer Leverkusen when he made 10 changes. But the Manchester City manager took the opposite approach this time.
Who was the best player for Man City against Real Madrid?
Some great displays tonight in a big win! 🔥
Man City players celebrate vs Real Madrid.
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And it led to a 2-1 win in the Bernabeu – and it was a special night for Nico O’Reilly.
O’Reilly has been enjoying a strong season for City and last night, he bagged his first ever goal in the Champions League, bundling home an equaliser after Josko Gvardiol won a header from a corner.
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He performed strongly throughout the contest – and after the game he came in for some nice praise from England legend Steven Gerrard.
Steven Gerrard hails Nico O’Reilly as Man City beat Real Madrid
Nico O'Reilly celebrates after scoring for Manchester City.
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O’Reilly has started the last six Premier League games for City, and has also featured heavily in the Champions League, starting four of the six games so far.
He may still only be 20, but O’Reilly plays with such maturity and there was so much to like about his display last night.
He perhaps didn’t cover himself in glory for Rodrygo’s opening goal.
But he recovered well and got City back in the contest. He then dealt with Rodrygo pretty well on the whole.
He also could have had a superb assist, as he played a ball across the box for Erling Haaland after a barnstorming run just before half-time.
Could Nico O’Reilly be England’s starting left-back at the World Cup? 🤔
Steven Gerrard loved what he saw from Nico O'Reilly against Real Madrid 👀
“He performed way beyond his years. Composure, he defended really well, at the right times. Rodrygo was magnificent tonight. But for a young kid, he had Vinicius and Rodrygo when he had to.
“A great sign from an England point of view.”
– Steven Gerrard on Nico O’Reilly, speaking on TNT Sports
Nico O'Reilly playing for Manchester City.
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After the game, pundit Steven Gerrard couldn’t hide his admiration, saying the youngster had played as though he was much older and more experienced.
He said: “He performed way beyond his years. Composure, he defended really well, at the right times. Rodrygo was magnificent tonight. But for a young kid, he had Vinicius and Rodrygo when he had to.
“A great sign from an England point of view.”
What Pep Guardiola made of O’Reilly against Real Madrid
O’Reilly really is getting better and better.
He’s been around a little while now, but he’s still only 20. That said, the maturity with which he plays makes that hard to believe sometimes.
After last night’s game, Guardiola was also complimentary about O’Reilly, describing his performance in the Bernabeu as ‘incredible’
Nico O'Reilly and Pep Guardiola in conversation.
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He definitely deserves huge credit because City obviously splashed £36 million in the summer to sign Rayan Ait-Nouri.
The Algerian’s time will come, but for now there is absolutely no dislodging O’Reilly, who will not only be in the plane to the World Cup next summer, but he could very well end up being the regular starter at left-back.