Ahead of Real Madrid’s Champions League clash with Manchester City, pressure was mounting on Xabi Alonso. Rumours suggested that the Spaniard had lost not only the dressing room but also the confidence of the club hierarchy following a run of disappointing results.

After a promising start to the 2025/26 season, injuries have ravaged Real’s first-team squad, leaving Los Blancos struggling to deliver performances of the standard expected.

Mbappe Absence Compounds Real’s Woes

Alonso’s luck didn’t improve for his reunion with former mentor Pep Guardiola. Kylian Mbappe—Real’s hero in their last match against Olympiacos, where he scored all four goals in a 4-3 win—was ruled out, denying Madrid a vital attacking outlet.

Team News and Tactical Changes

Before kick-off, Real sat fifth in their Champions League group on 12 points, while City’s 10 points left them ninth, just outside automatic qualification. Alonso made six changes due to injuries, while Guardiola rotated ten players from the squad that faced Bayer Leverkusen, showcasing Manchester City’s remarkable squad depth.

Bright Start for Real Madrid

Pep Guardiola had faced Real Madrid 14 times away from home in his managerial career, winning just two of his last four visits (D2, L2). Erling Haaland marked his 50th Champions League start, already having scored 50 goals in his previous 49 appearances—a record in the competition.

The match began with Real Madrid firing on all cylinders. Fede Valverde, Alvaro Carreras, and Vinicius Jr created three chances in the first seven minutes, putting City under early pressure. Despite this, City controlled 66% of possession in the opening 15 minutes, setting the tone for the rest of the game.

Rodrygo Strikes First

Haaland remained peripheral in the opening stages, while Rodrygo quickly became Real’s most dangerous player. The Brazilian created three chances before scoring a fine drive across Gianluigi Donnarumma, ending a 32-game goal drought. It was his fifth goal against City—the most he has scored against a single opponent. Jude Bellingham provided the assist, his first of the campaign and 14th in the Champions League overall.

City Respond Quickly

Real’s lead lasted just seven minutes. Thibaut Courtois spilled a Josko Gvardiol header straight to Nico O’Reilly, who equalised, becoming the second-youngest player to score for an English club against Real in the Champions League. Haaland restored City’s advantage before half-time with a penalty, his sixth touch of the half after being fouled by Antonio Rudiger.

Remarkably, it was only the second time in Real’s history that they had scored first but trailed at half-time in European competition. Without Mbappe’s pace up front, Real struggled to break down City’s organized defence.

Midfield Dominance Seals Victory

City’s back four made 17 clearances—almost matching Real’s entire team—and maintained precise distribution, with O’Reilly completing 91.4% of his passes. But it was midfield control that ultimately decided the game.

Real were missing Valverde in his natural position, and despite decent stats from Nico Gonzalez—96.6% pass accuracy, including 100% in the final third—they were no match for City’s dominance. The fans’ frustration was clear: 16 shots with just one on target told the story of a squandered opportunity.

Closing Stages and Missed Chances

With victory secure, Guardiola substituted Haaland, Phil Foden, and Rayan Cherki with 20 minutes remaining. Real had a late flurry of chances, but Endrick’s effort against the post was as close as they came to an equaliser.

Post-match, Alonso would have known this was a missed opportunity. Real had more possession, more shots, and more passes than City, but lacked the cutting edge when it mattered most. Rodrygo’s six crosses, six dribbles, and five chances created offered some consolation in an otherwise disappointing night for Los Blancos.

Whether this match marks the end of Xabi Alonso’s tenure at Real Madrid remains to be seen, but it was a night that highlighted the gulf between a well-oiled Manchester City side and a struggling Real Madrid.