Real Madrid lost to Man City 1-2: Does Alonso still have a chance to escape?
Real Madrid reacted positively to their 1-2 defeat to Man City and remain supportive of Xabi Alonso. Internal sources indicate his position is not immediately under threat.
The 1-2 defeat to Manchester City at the Bernabeu didn't end Xabi Alonso's six-month tenure, but it kept the pressure at its peak. Real Madrid showed a positive response, with the dressing room standing by the manager, despite individual mistakes and a continuing injury crisis.
The turning point at Bernabeu
The atmosphere at the Bernabeu on Thursday morning was a stark contrast to the booing of the previous weekend following the 0-2 defeat to Celta Vigo. Real Madrid started with high intensity, pressing and forcing mistakes into the Manchester City defense, and defending much more aggressively than in recent weeks. That effort was rewarded with a spectacular opening goal from Rodrygo. The Brazilian striker ran straight to the dugout to embrace Alonso – his first goal in 33 games, an image that spoke volumes about the team's cohesion.
Developments: bright spots overshadowed by individual mistakes.
The complacency came at the very moment Real needed to be most alert. Just before halftime, mistake after mistake: Jude Bellingham and Thibaut Courtois gifted Nico O'Reilly an equalizer. In the second half, Antonio Rudiger's risky shirt-pulling led to a penalty, and Erling Haaland sealed a 2-1 victory for Man City.
Towards the end of the match, Alonso went all-in: he brought on Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo, Bellingham, Arda Guler, Endrick, and Brahim Diaz. Opportunities still arose, but shots from Vinicius and Bellingham lacked the accuracy to bring Real back into the game.
Tactics: Intensity returns, but the system remains fragile.
Real Madrid showed a more collective identity: better pressing intensity, faster transitions, and a higher level of commitment in defense. However, the inherent problems have not disappeared. The defensive flanks lack stability, reactions in crucial moments are a step too slow, and especially, individual errors continue to disrupt the overall structure.
The heavy injury situation forced Alonso to rotate his squad. Real had as many as eight players absent, including a large number of defensive options. Kylian Mbappe was named as a substitute but was unable to play, forcing the Basque coach to push the team very high up the pitch in the final stages as a necessary gamble.
Reactions from those involved.
Thibaut Courtois said after the match: "We played well and were leading 1-0. The equalizer was clearly my fault... Then there was the penalty. That's the situation we were in."
Rodrygo shared his thoughts on the celebration directed towards the technical area: "Things aren't going well and I wanted to show everyone that we're always with the manager. I'm very sad about the defeat but I hope to get back in form soon."
Impact and a fine line for Alonso
In terms of overall standing, Real Madrid are 7th in the Champions League qualifying round and have a good chance of progressing. However, consistency is a concern: they have only won 2 of their last 8 matches in all competitions and are 4 points behind Barcelona in La Liga. According to internal sources from The Athletic, Alonso's position is not immediately threatened; losing to a strong opponent like Man City while depleted is not a disaster. Nevertheless, his job is certainly no longer secure.
The next challenge comes on Sunday, at Alaves – the kind of game Real often lacks the necessary intensity. Alonso emphasized he was focused on the next match rather than his own future. Courtois summarized the only way forward: "By winning. We have no other choice but to win at Alaves."
Selective statistics
- Score: Real Madrid 1-2 Manchester City.
- Rodrygo scored his first goal after 33 matches.
- The penalty was decided after Antonio Rudiger pulled the shirt, and Erling Haaland took it.
- Real Madrid are missing eight players due to injury; Kylian Mbappe is on the bench but is unable to play.
- They have won only 2 of their last 8 matches in all competitions; and are 4 points behind Barcelona in La Liga.
- They finished 7th in the Champions League qualifying round.
The night at the Bernabeu ended with a sense of "escape" for Alonso: he still had the support of the dressing room and the team had regained its intensity. But the clock was ticking; Real needed immediate results to turn this optimistic signal into a new trajectory.
