Manchester City stunned Real Madrid 2-1 in a thrilling Champions League clash at the Bernabeu. The loss piles massive pressure on manager Xabi Alonso. Fans and pundits now buzz with sack rumors.
Rodrygo fired Madrid ahead in the 28th minute. He ended a 32 game goal drought with a sharp finish. City fought back hard. James McAtee qualified after a Courtois blunder on Gvardiol’s header. Nico O’Reilly sealed the win with a late penalty.
Alonso made bold calls. He benched star Kylian Mbappe due to knee issues. Young Gonzalo Garcia stood up instead. The risk backfired as City dominated. Tactically, Alonso shifted Bellingham central and brought on Arda Guler and Endrick. Endrick nearly snatched a draw with a header.
Pressure mounted pre-match. Madrid lost 2-0 to Celta Vigo days earlier. They won just two of their last eight games. Speculation swirled that Alonso could be axed if they lost to Pep Guardiola’s men. Guardiola, once Alonso’s mentor, stayed neutral. “I wish Xabu the best but don’t know his future,” he said.
Players rallied behind their boss. Podrygo hugged Alonso after his goal. He later declared, “We are with Xabi Alonso. We stand with him.” Teammates insist on full backing despite the slump. BBC reports no immediate snacking threat. But a poor result versus Alaves on Sunday could change that.
Alonso praised his squad’s fight post-match. “Players gave it their all,” he said. Real faces injury woes with Mbappe sidelined. Rodrygo thrives in Europe, netting five against City lifetime.
This drama captivates football’s elite circle. Alonso, 43, conquered Bayer Leverkusen with an unbeaten Bundesliga title in 2024. He snagged the DFB-Pokal too for a domestic double. Now at the boyhood club, Real’s dreams sour fast. Fans chant his name, but the results scream doubt.
City’s win marks their first Bernabeu triumph since 2020. Haaland, Silva and Dias started from the 2023 final lineup. Guardiola demanded big-stage proof. His revamped side delivered. Rodrygo’s vintage strike echoed his 2022 semifinal heroics against City.
Madrid’s season teeters. Alonso’s stay hinges on quick fixes. Club legends whisper he doesn’t fit their style. “Real doesn’t want his kind of manager,” one report claims. Yet player loyalty buys time.
Hollywood vibes grip this saga. Picture the fallen hero battling his old guru. Alonso’s Leverkusen fairy tale contrasts Madrid’s misery. Will he bounce back or face the axe? Billionaire owners watch closely. Global fans glued to every twist.
Pep’s City soars. Madrid’s king is in crisis. Alonso’s next moves define his legacy. Stay tuned—this blockbuster unfolds.
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