Real Madrid started without Kylian Mbappé, who broke a finger. But it was not noticed, at least not at first. Because the home team came out strong and created loads of chances.
After just under half an hour, the lead finally came. Brassen Rodrygo received the ball on the right wing and drove forward before neatly placing the ball at the far post. His first goal this season.
After 36 minutes played came the equalizer. The visitors, who did not have any really dangerous scoring chances at all, were awarded a corner. After Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois released a weak return to Josko Gvardiol’s header, Nico O’Reilly was able to easily level 1-1.
And just minutes later Antonio Rüdiger held Erling Haaland down and after a long VAR review the referee pointed to the penalty spot. The Norwegian stepped forward and was the safety himself when he put 1-2.
The crisis getting worse for Xabi Alonso
In the second half, Manchester City continued to pour on but Courtois kept his team in the game with several sharp saves. The Spanish big team had a couple of chances to equalise, where Endrick nodded into the crossbar. But they never got closer and when the match was over, the burope hailed at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Former Real Madrid icon Xabi Alonso stepped in as coach of the “Meringues” this summer, and has had mixed results since taking over. In the last eight competitive matches, they have only two wins. And after the loss in the league against Celta Vigo this weekend, where Swedish Williot Swedberg scored both goals, came Spanish information that they sat in crisis meetings to discuss Alonso’s future. And the question now is if Alonso is Real Madrid coach tomorrow?
– We have no problems with Xabi Alonso. We are hurt by the way we are playing right now. But we have full confidence in Xabi, we have a good relationship, says Rodrygo to Viaplay after the match.
