Haaland’s penalty sinks Real Madrid as Alonso’s job hangs in the balance after another defeat

Xabi Alonso arrived at the Bernabéu knowing the walls had begun to close in. A month ago, Real Madrid were gliding through fixtures with confidence and authority. Now the manager finds himself edging dangerously close to the point of no return. The defeat to Manchester City felt like another step towards that abyss, not because his team lacked effort but because the margins deserted them when he needed fortune most.

Madrid’s form has collapsed alarmingly, with only two victories in their past eight matches across all competitions. Supporters who once hailed Alonso’s calm control have grown restless, and the tension around the stadium has thickened with every setback. He set his side up with determination and clarity, and the players responded with intensity. But the evening slipped away from him all the same. Time, in his position, is rarely granted as a kindness.

Pep Guardiola, meanwhile, travelled to Spain with a point to prove. He had watched Bayer Leverkusen expose his misjudged line-up in City’s previous Champions League outing and arrived at a venue steeped in personal history determined not to repeat that error. Guardiola selected the strongest team available, and although City did not dazzle throughout the 90 minutes, they offered enough to turn the tie around and restore confidence. This was not City at their ruthless best, but it was City doing what champions do: surviving, adapting and striking at decisive moments.

Madrid struck first through Rodrygo, who ended a drought of 33 club matches without a goal. His finish ignited the Bernabéu, and he sprinted straight into Alonso’s arms in a moment packed with emotional significance. For a few fleeting minutes, belief swirled through the stands again. The energy returned. But Real’s vulnerability lingered beneath the surface, and City sensed it.

Nico O’Reilly, making his mark on Europe’s biggest stage, delivered City’s response. The midfielder had already impressed with his surging runs and crisp distribution, and when the ball fell kindly for him, he drove it home for his first Champions League goal. His strike punctured Madrid’s momentum and shifted the atmosphere inside the stadium.

The decisive blow came when City earned a penalty, one that Real Madrid fans insisted was harsh. The referee stood by his decision, and Erling Haaland, cold and unflinching, smashed the ball beyond the reach of the goalkeeper. It proved to be the winner and a moment that underlined the Norwegian’s capacity to tilt matches with a single touch.

Madrid did not fold. Far from it. They pushed forward, hunted for openings and came agonisingly close when Endrick, thrown on in a bold attacking gamble, rose to meet a cross and thundered a header against the bar. The Bernabéu held its breath as the ball ricocheted away. That was their moment, and it vanished almost as quickly as it arrived.

Alonso tried to frame the performance in the most positive light afterward. He argued that his players had fought with conviction and that their intent had been unmistakable. Yet even as he spoke, the feeling persisted that fate is no longer favouring him. The footballing gods, as he suggested, seem to have turned away, leaving him clinging to whatever solace can be found in a determined display that still ended in defeat.

Guardiola, by contrast, left Madrid with contentment. His team had steadied themselves after a damaging loss, rediscovered resilience and claimed a crucial victory in one of Europe’s most unforgiving stadiums. City were not perfect, but they were good enough, and in the Champions League, that is often all that matters.