Manchester City were held to a 1-1 draw by Real Madrid in the Women’s Champions League after Bunny Shaw cancelled out Linda Caicedo’s first-half opener before a dramatic late refereeing decision denied the visitors a winner.
Caicedo was Real Madrid’s outstanding player and put the Spanish side ahead in the 29th minute. She raced beyond Laura Blindkilde Brown on the right, found space in the penalty area and placed her shot inside the far post after Alex Greenwood had been unable to close her down.
City improved after the interval and levelled six minutes into the second half. Yui Hasegawa won possession in midfield and, after turning the ball over, helped create the opening for Shaw, who produced a controlled finish across the goalkeeper.
The home side had threatened earlier, with Greenwood’s free-kick from the left finding Mary Fowler in the six-yard box. Fowler’s header beat Ayaka Yamashita but struck the crossbar.
Real Madrid goalkeeper Yamashita then made a sharp early intervention in the 21st minute, racing from her goal to deny Felicia Schroder after the City forward had turned and shot from close range.
Before the break, Shaw held the ball up well inside the area and laid it off for Hasegawa, whose powerful effort was courageously blocked by Maelle Lakrar’s header.
Shaw came close to putting Manchester City ahead in the 62nd minute when she met Lauren Hemp’s cross, but sent her header over the bar. Hasegawa later missed another opportunity, volleying wide from just inside the area after a Greenwood corner had been cleared into her path.
Real Madrid pushed for a winning goal and Yamashita again kept City out in the 77th minute, getting a hand to Irune Dorado’s effort.
The visitors thought they had taken all three points in the 89th minute when Silvia Cristobal curled a superb finish into the top corner. However, referee Silvia Gasperotti had already stopped play after accidentally blocking Beth Mead and preventing her from reaching the ball.
Real Madrid’s players and coaching staff protested angrily, appealing for the goal to be allowed to stand, but their complaints were rejected and the contest finished level.
The result gives City two consecutive draws at the start of the league phase, following the same scoreline away to Bayern Munich last week.
Manchester City now turn their attention to a Women’s Super League meeting with Arsenal, which is live on Sky Sports. Real Madrid’s next match is against Barcelona.
