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A Performance That Offered Hope in the Midst of Pressure

A home defeat in a marquee Champions League encounter often shakes the foundations at Real Madrid, yet Wednesday’s 2-1 loss to Manchester City at the Bernabeu brought something more nuanced than panic. While the scoreline will not have pleased club president Florentino Perez, the display itself did not resemble the sort of collapse that typically seals the fate of a manager under scrutiny.

Xabi Alonso, only six months into his tenure, entered the night amid heated debate over his future, fuelled by a run of slow, disjointed performances and a miserable 2-0 home defeat to Celta Vigo days earlier. That loss, accompanied by piercing whistles from the home crowd, suggested a team in disarray.

Yet the mood shifted when Madrid stepped onto the pitch against one of Europe’s strongest sides. Alonso’s team began with an intensity and togetherness that had been missing for weeks. They pressed City high, forced errors, and defended transitions with renewed urgency. It was the sort of reaction that supporters felt had been absent recently, and it lifted the atmosphere inside the Bernabeu.

Their early aggression almost earned a penalty for Vinicius Junior, later overturned by VAR, before Rodrygo opened the scoring with a sharp finish that ignited the stadium.

Madrid’s Weaknesses Exposed Before Half Time

For all the early promise, familiar fragilities resurfaced in the final minutes before the interval. First, mistakes by Jude Bellingham and Thibaut Courtois allowed Nico O’Reilly an easy tap-in. Then Antonio Rudiger’s tug on Erling Haaland handed City a penalty, which the Norwegian converted with typical calm.

Courtois admitted his part in City’s equaliser, telling Movistar TV afterwards: “The equaliser was obviously a bit of a mistake from me. When things are going for you, that ball falls to a team-mate, not an opponent who sticks it in.”

Madrid’s confidence took a hit, and City controlled long stretches of the second half. They could have added to their lead, though Courtois produced several outstanding saves to keep the game alive.

It also mattered that Madrid were missing eight players, including most of their starting defence and top scorer Kylian Mbappe, who remained on the bench and was unavailable for selection.

Late Pressure, Brave Changes and Signs of Unity

Despite the situation, Alonso continued to make bold attacking substitutions, urged on by the energy in the stadium. By full time, Madrid had a six-man attacking unit on the pitch: Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo, Bellingham, Arda Guler, Endrick and Brahim Diaz.

The remontada spirit almost resurfaced when both Vinicius Jr and Bellingham missed good chances to level the match. There were whistles from sections of the crowd during the second half, with Vinicius Jr among those targeted, but the general mood was far from the hostility shown after the Celta defeat.

One of the night’s most meaningful moments came when Rodrygo celebrated his first goal in 33 games by running directly to the bench to embrace Alonso. The Brazilian later said: “It’s a difficult moment for us and for him too. Things are not going for us and I wanted to show everyone that we are together with our coach.”

Context in the Champions League and La Liga

Despite the loss, Madrid sit seventh in the Champions League league-phase table and remain well placed to reach the top eight. Their remaining fixtures, at home to Monaco and away to Benfica, look manageable.

But this is Real Madrid, where the wider picture matters as much as any single result. The club have won only two of their last eight matches in all competitions and remain four points behind Barcelona in La Liga. They now travel to face Alaves, a fixture typifying the games in which Madrid’s intensity has badly dropped this season.

When asked whether he feared for his future, Alonso simply replied: “I’m concerned about the next game. The important thing is Real Madrid, the players, and how we can help.”

A Tactical Challenge That Still Lingers

Alonso arrived determined to build a more proactive, possession-heavy version of Madrid. Instead of relying on counter-attacking football, he aimed to create a side comfortable dictating games, something predecessor Carlo Ancelotti often prioritised differently.

Yet against City, Madrid were forced into a reactive approach, which ironically suited many of their attackers better. Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo, in particular, thrive on space and transitions. The bigger challenge comes against deeper, disciplined sides like Alaves, where Madrid must break down low blocks, something they have struggled with all season.

The injuries, the tactical inconsistency and the pressure of the badge all feed into the same question: can Alonso implement his vision quickly enough to survive the expectations that come with the Bernabeu?

Inside the Club: A Reprieve, Not a Resolution

By late Wednesday night, sources within the club stressed that Alonso’s position was not under immediate threat. This performance, though a defeat, showed togetherness and effort. As far as losses go, it was not disastrous.

However, nobody is under the illusion that a corner has been turned. This remains a fragile moment for the coach and the team.

Courtois summed up the situation bluntly when asked how Madrid could escape their slump: “By winning games. And to continue with the same intensity we showed today. We have to win at Alaves, we have no other option.”

A Crucial Test Ahead

Alonso earned breathing room with Madrid’s spirited showing against City, but the journey to stability remains steep. The next fixtures will test not only his tactical ideas but also the players’ willingness to deliver high-intensity performances against every opponent, not just Europe’s elite.

For now, the crisis is paused, not resolved. Real Madrid know that only victories will bring calm back to the Bernabeu, and Alonso’s future hinges on delivering them quickly.