Ever wondered has Haaland scored against Real Madrid? BraeckBall dives in: yes — Erling Haaland has finally broken his duck against Los Blancos. After several scoreless battles, he scored his first goal vs Real Madrid on February 11, 2025, in the Champions League knockout round first leg at the Etihad. He didn’t stop there, bagging two goals in that same game (one open play, one penalty).
Record before the breakthrough
To appreciate how big that goal was, here’s what the story looked like until then.
Prior to February 2025, Haaland had faced Real Madridthe Champions League multiple times (semifinals in 2022-23, quarterfinals in 2023-24, etc.) without scoring or assisting.
He played under pressure: Madrid is always a high bar. Haaland’s performances were widely analyzed, with fans and pundits saying that despite his huge goal tally elsewhere, Madrid was a hurdle he hadn’t crossed. in.com)
The match and the goals
What changed? Let’s unpack the moment when Haaland scored against Real Madrid for the first time.
Date & venue: February 11, 2025, first leg of Champions League playoff round at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester City vs Real Madrid.
Goals:
- The first was a thunderous finish off a cross (after good build-up involving Grealish and Gvardiol) in the 19th minute.
- The second came.
Game result: Man City lost 3-2 in that leg to Real Madrid. Though Haaland scored, Real Madrid struck back to win the match.
Why it mattered
This goal had significance beyond just another goal on the scoresheet.
- It ended a narrative: critics and fans had long observed how Haaland, despite his scoring machine reputation, struggled to make an impact vs Real Madrid. Breaking through meant shedding a burden.
- It elevated him historically: the goal also tied him with Zlatan Ibrahimović in the Champions League scoring charts at that moment.
- Psychological boost: Scoring vs elite clubs in high-pressure games boosts a striker’s confidence. For City, and for Haaland, this was proof that no ceiling is too high.
Further performances vs Real Madrid
After that first brace, what has followed?
- As of the most recent matches, Haaland has now scored more than once vs Real Madrid. His brace in that Etihad game counts as two.
- His overall record vs Real Madrid is still limited in terms of appearances — only around 5-6 matches before that breakthrough, including both legs of knockout ties.
Statistics summary at glance
Here are some key numbers to frame Haaland’s record vs Real Madrid:
- Appearances vs Madrid (before Feb 2025): around 4 (CL knockout ties) with 0 goals, 0 assists.
- First goal vs Madrid: Feb 11, 2025 — he scored 2 in that match.
- Updated stats vs Madrid after that match: at least 2 goals. Assists remain low in those fixtures.
What this means for Haaland’s legacy
Has Haaland scored against Real Madrid? Yes — and doing it in a Champions League knockout tie matters more than many regular league goals.
For a player whose entire career is measured by goals, breaks, and big moments, this one adds to the layers:
- It shows he can perform in the biggest games.
- It helps erase “weakness vs top opponent” criticisms.
- It adds to his Champions League pedigree — scoring against one of the most successful clubs in European history is always weighty.
Conclusion
Has Haaland scored against Real Madrid — in short: yes. After multiple attempts and growing tension, he finally broke his goalless streak vs Los Blancos on February 11, 2025, scoring twice in a dramatic Champions League match. Though City lost that first leg, the goals marked a milestone for Haaland’s career and silenced doubts.
If you’re keen to dive deeper, BraeckBall can next explore Haaland’s full Champions League goal stats, comparisons with other heavyweights (Ronaldo, Messi, Benzema…), or how his performances vs elite clubs stack up. Want me to write one of those?
