Rodrygo continues incredible Manchester City record with streak-ending goal

For the first time in 32 games, Rodrygo Goes has a goal to celebrate for Real Madrid. The Brazilian’s long goalless streak was ended with a clinical strike against Manchester City, who he has an impressive personal record against.

The 24-year-old has slipped from prominence under Xabi Alonso this season, squeezed out of a team that also includes Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappé. That last name was absent from the starting XI against City due to injury and Rodrygo was on hand to replace Mbappé’s goals.

Midway through the first half Rodrygo found himself in a pocket of space on the right of the penalty box. He shifted the ball onto his right foot and rifled the ball past Gianluigi Donnarumma from a tight angle.

Wednesday’s goal was not the first time that Rodrygo had struck against City. He now has five goals against Pep Guardiola’s side, including a brace in one of the most memorable Champions League games of recent years.

With Real Madrid trailing by two goals in the dying minutes of a semifinal against City in 2021/22, Rodrygo came off the bench to score a priceless brace. Madrid went on to win the game in extra-time and clinched another European title with a victory over Liverpool in the final.

“When I scored my first goal, the Bernabéu carried us through,” Rodrygo told AS, reflecting on his game-winning performance against City. “Before that goal, I would never have thought that I could be the hero in this game, but after the equalizer everything went very quickly and it was special.”