Pep's men pile more pressure on Alonso

Manchester City came from behind to beat Real Madrid 2-1 on Wednesday in the Champions League, leaving Xabi Alonso's position as coach of the Spanish giant in grave danger.

Without injured superstar Kylian Mbappe, Madrid took the lead through Rodrygo, but a strike from Nico O'Reilly and an Erling Haaland penalty sent City in ahead at the break and, ultimately, secured Pep Guardiola's City the three points.

Spanish media reported in the lead-up to the game that a defeat would seal Alonso's fate as Madrid coach, although his team's performance was creditable, despite the eventual outcome at a frustrated Bernabeu stadium.

The record 15-time Champions League winner has now won just two of its last eight matches across all competitions, and faces a battle for a place in the top eight of the league phase.

Guardiola admitted that his side had been second best in the opening phases of the game.

However, he lauded the character that enabled City to recover from its sluggish start.

"In the first 25 minutes, until the goal from Nico, they were much better than us," he said.

"I will take the result, but I know we need to be better. I know that, in February and March, if we go through, the level required is higher than today.

"I have to be so grateful to the players. I'm happy," he added.

"I've been here many times in these last few years.

"We've fought many battles (at the Bernabeu), and we've been much better than today, but didn't manage to win. This is a reality."

Alonso was forced to leave his team's top scorer Mbappe on the bench, saying it would have been "a risk" to use him amid his current knee discomfort, instead choosing to start 21-year-old striker Gonzalo Garcia.

Madrid knocked City out of last season's Champions League playoff round in February, and Mbappe scored four of the goals in that 6-3 aggregate win.

Fans whistled the team at times during the second half as it struggled to battle back into contention.

"It's normal, Madrid is a very demanding club, with demanding fans, we've been here for years — we know this can happen if we aren't good," Rodrygo told Spanish broadcaster Movistar.

"It's fair, and we have to accept it and try to improve to get out of this situation."

'Difficult moment'

This was the 15th meeting between these sides, in what has become a modern Champions League classic, and it started at lightning speed, with Vinicius Junior heavily involved in the opening exchanges.

Madrid's Brazilian forward was felled by Matheus Nunes with the referee pointing to the spot, but a VAR review showed the contact was outside the area.

It was deserved when the host took the lead in the 28th minute, with Rodrygo finishing a move started by Alvaro Carreras at the other end of the pitch.

Madrid broke forward and Jude Bellingham fed the Brazilian, who finished early and low, firing across City's Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and into the far corner.

It was his first goal in 33 games, ending a barren and frustrating spell for Rodrygo, and also his fifth against City.

In 2022 his stunning late brace helped Madrid defeat Guardiola's side in the semifinals.

Rodrygo embraced Alonso on the side of the pitch after scoring, later saying he wanted to send a message.

"It's a difficult moment for us and for (Alonso) as well. Things aren't going well. We wanted to show people we're together with the coach," explained Rodrygo.

Madrid's opening half-hour was close to perfect, but City pulled level out of the blue after a mistake from Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

The stopper could not hold on to Josko Gvardiol's header and O'Reilly gratefully tapped home the loose ball in the 35th minute.

Players stand with Xabi

Guardiola was not pleased with his team's first half display, but it went ahead after the host's German center-back Antonio Rudiger wrestled Haaland to the ground to concede a penalty.

The in-form Norwegian striker, who will face Mbappe's France at the World Cup next summer, sent Courtois the wrong way from the spot.

Courtois made amends for his earlier error with a fine double save to thwart Haaland and Rayan Cherki before the break, and later denied a Jeremy Doku effort.

With no equalizer forthcoming, Alonso turned to promising Brazilian youngster Endrick, whom he has hardly utilized since arriving, and the 19-year-old clipped the crossbar with five minutes to go.

Madrid was short of ideas in the second half and may decide to look to another coach for new ones in the coming days.

"The dressing room is with Xabi Alonso," said Madrid defender Raul Asencio, praising his team's attitude, defending his coach and giving demanding club president Florentino Perez food for thought.

AFP