Real Madrid showed signs of improvement, but still succumbed 2-1 to Manchester City in the Champions League on Wednesday, a defeat that maintains the negative feelings that grip coach Xabi Alonso.
Without Kylian Mbappé due to a muscle injury, Madrid took the lead at their Santiago Bernabéu stadium thanks to Rodrygo Goes’ goal in the 28th minute, but City turned it around with goals from Nico O’Reilly in the 35th and Erling Haaland from a penalty in the 43rd.
The prelude to the match was marked by press reports that Alonso has lost control of the locker room. It is likely to be the focus of speculation about its continuity after the last defeat. Madrid has rescued just two wins in eight games and has suffered defeats at home.
There were boos inside the Bernabéu at the end of the game.
“We know that it is a difficult moment for us and for the coach,” Rodrygo said. “Things are not going the way we want and I wanted to show that we are with the coach. He has been trying. I wanted to show that we are together and we need to be united to move forward and achieve our goals.”
Alonso looked frustrated on the touchline as he watched his forward waste opportunities to salvage something in the absence of Mbappé, who was on the bench but did not come on.
Vinicius Junior failed to score with two opportunities from close range and Jude Bellingham lifted another shot over the crossbar, when he had goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to beat.
Madrid is seventh in the standings. Only the top eight teams automatically advance to the round of 16.
Also on Wednesday, Arsenal remains perfect in the Champions League after a 3-0 victory against Club Brugge.
Paris Saint-Germain did not go beyond a 0-0 draw against Athletic Bilbao. The defending champions of Europe are in third place with 13 points.
With a goal from Colombian Richard Ríos, José Mourinho’s Benfica beat the Italian champion Napoli 2-0 in Lisbon. Additionally, Weston McKennie scored for Juventus in a 2-0 win over Paphos.
Arsenal remains perfect
Leader of the Premier League and also the Champions League, Arsenal beat Bruges to maintain its perfect record in Europe, now with the ideal of 18 points.
Noni Madueke scored twice and Gabriel Martinelli got the other for Spanish Mikel Arteta’s team.
PSG could not find a winning goal in Bilbao, but with 13 points after six games, the French giants have already equaled the total they earned in the league stage last season before lifting the trophy.
Newcastle squanders lead at the end
Spaniard Alejandro Grimaldo made the difference again for Bayer Leverkusen, scoring in the 88th minute to rescue a 2-2 draw against Newcastle.
The hero of Leverkusen’s shock victory at Man City last month, Grimaldo darted into the box to level the score.
Leverkusen took an early lead when Bruno Guimaraes deflected a Robert Andrich header into his own net. Nick Woltemade won a penalty which Anthony Gordon converted in the 51st before 19-year-old midfielder Lewis Miley put Newcastle in front with a header.
Leverkusen coach Kasper Hjulmand missed the match for personal reasons, the club said an hour before kick-off.
Boos were heard at the end of the duel at Borussia Dortmund’s field after the Norwegian Bodo/Glimt sealed a 2-2 draw, equalizing twice after Julian Brandt’s goals for Dortmund.
The result does not help either team. Dortmund’s chances of achieving direct qualification for the round of 16 took a hit. Bodo/Glimt have three draws but no wins in their debut season in the Champions League.
ajax remont for vesal a Qaarabag
Ajax scored three goals late in the match to snatch an unexpected victory from Qarabag in one of the first matches.
The Dutch team, four-time European Cup winners, twice trailed their Azerbaijani opponents but eventually won 4-2 in Baku.
Qarabag has been one of the surprises in this season’s competition and took the lead after 10 minutes through Colombian Camilo Duran. Matheus Silva scored two minutes into the second half to make it 2-1 after Kasper Dolberg had equalized for Ajax.
But Ajax recovered with three goals in 11 minutes. Oscar Gloukh scored in the 79th and 90th. Anton Gaaei got the other in the 82nd.
Copenhagen also claimed victory at the end, 3-2 away against a Villarreal that sank into penultimate place.
Substitute Andreas Cornelius scored in the 90th to seal the victory in a match where Copenhagen had been caught twice after taking the lead.
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