Real Madrid find themselves in unfamiliar turbulence, and Xabi Alonso’s grip on the job could hinge on what happens tonight at the Bernabéu. Injuries have ripped through the squad, and the absence of their most influential player, Kylian Mbappé, responsible for 57% of their goals this season, has left a gaping hole in attack.
Madrid’s dip in form has been costly; dropping 9 points from their last 5 LaLiga matches has allowed Barcelona to snatch the top spot, deepening the crisis.
For Alonso, this is more than just another Champions League fixture. Fate has placed his future in the hands of his former mentor, Pep Guardiola, the man overseeing a Manchester City side steadily gaining momentum. Yet the Bernabéu is a ground where scripts are often torn apart. Under its lights, the impossible often becomes ordinary.
Despite their domestic struggles, Real Madrid sit 6th in the Champions League group phase with 12 points. City, meanwhile, occupy 12th with 10 points, a reminder of how tightly contested this season’s expanded format has become.
In their last 5 Champions League outings, Madrid have suffered only one defeat, while Manchester City have produced a respectable run of 4 wins, one draw and one loss.
History between the two sides adds another layer of intrigue. Their last 10 Champions League encounters slightly favour Manchester City, who have 4 wins, 3 draws and 3 defeats against Los Blancos. It is a rivalry built on fine margins, dramatic nights and unforgettable moments — a contest where momentum often flips without warning.
With the Bernabéu roaring behind them and their season hanging in the balance, Real Madrid know that tonight demands more than tactics — it requires heart, resilience and that old European instinct that has carried them through storms far worse than this.
As the proverb says, when the night gets darkest, the stars shine brightest. Whether Real Madrid can find those stars without Mbappé remains the question.
Manchester City, on the other hand, arrive wounded by injuries of their own but buoyed by their recent rhythm. Guardiola understands this terrain well. Alonso understands the stakes. And the world waits.
Tonight, everything is on the line.
Injuries & Suspensions
Real Madrid:
É. Militão – Thigh injury
K. Mbappé – Muscle injury
T. Alexander-Arnold – Thigh injury
D. Alaba – Muscle injury
E. Camavinga – Ankle injury
D. Huijsen – Knock
D. Carvajal – Knee injury
F. Mendy – Muscle injury
Manchester City:
J. Stones – Leg injury
M. Kovačić – Ankle injury
Rodri – Muscle injury
