Perhaps, then, it was fitting that an eight-minute meltdown brought Real a second successive home defeat. First Celta Vigo, now Manchester City<\/a>have triumphed at the Bernabeu. A team with a mere two victories in eight games represent a club with a culture of impatience. <\/p>\n But as Alonso was beaten by a mentor, Guardiola\u2019s seventh win at the Bernabeu may have been his most unlikely, for all Real\u2019s problems. City exited the Champions League in Madrid last season and revived their chances of a top-eight finish in the league phase this year; the damage done by defeat to Bayer Leverkusen was repaired in spectacular fashion.<\/p>\n Read more<\/p>\n Chris Wilson10 December 2025 22:21<\/p>\n <\/a>Champions League results<\/p>\n The scores elsewhere tonight:<\/p>\n Borussia Dortmund 2-2 Bodo\/Glimt Benfica 2-0 Napoli Bayer Leverkusen 2-2 Newcastle Athletic Bilbao 0-0 PSG Juventus 2-0 Pafos Real Madrid 1-2 Manchester City <\/p>\n Chris Wilson10 December 2025 23:30<\/p>\n <\/a>Pundits rally behind Alonso<\/p>\n Former Madrid defender Jonathan Woodgate says that it would be a strange decision for the club to sack Alonso at this point. <\/p>\n \u201cI just hope Xabi Alonso keeps his job. There is no point in hiring a young manager and giving him six months at the biggest club in the world. Zero point,\u201d he explains. <\/p>\n \u201cYou may as well hire someone else who is older and a bit wiser. You have to stick with Alonso – you have to! <\/p>\n \u201cYou have brought him in from Bayer Leverkusen where he did an incredible Job. <\/p>\n \u201cIf they sack him, it will be a shocking decision. He just needs to be given time,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Chris Wilson10 December 2025 23:15<\/p>\n <\/a>Bellingham: ‘This is what I’ve signed up for’<\/p>\n England and Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham was last to speak to TNT Sports. Here\u2019s what he said: <\/p>\n “We’re still trying to work it out within the changing room regardless of what goes on outside. We know that’s not helpful. One thing is how we’re managing games. Certain points where we have to suffer it feels like we always concede and it puts us on the back foot and makes us have to play a way we don’t want to. <\/p>\n “But in the changing room we have what we need to turn it around, we need maybe a bit of luck or maybe something we need to discuss internally. I have faith this season isn’t over just because we’re in a bad run of form.”<\/p>\n When asked if the players are behind the manager, he replies: “100 per cent. The manager has been great. I personally have a great relationship with him and I know a lot of the boys do too. After that run of draws we had some great conversations internally and felt we’d put that form behind us but the last couple of games. No one is downing tools, no one complaining or moaning. We take it on the chin and keep fighting.”<\/p>\n On scrutiny on him personally: “Its just life. This is what I’ve signed up for. I play for the biggest club in the world and one of the most in the world. I don’t want pity, I’m living the dream. I role with the punches and the most important thing is that to me.”<\/p>\n Chris Wilson10 December 2025 23:00<\/p>\n <\/a>More from Guardiola<\/p>\n On O\u2019Reilly\u2019s performance, Guardiola adds: \u201cTop. It\u2019s difficult for him, [with] Rodrygo, what a player, Vinicius, Bellingham, the pace they have up front, it\u2019s so dangerous, that\u2019s why you can\u2019t stay high. You have to commit in defence, we lacked a bit, but in general the effort was extraordinary.<\/p>\n On Haaland: \u201cThe numbers speak for themselves. We have to find him more, he has to be involved in the game, he has not been in the last one or two games, we had to think about it, what can we do to make him more present, but the numbers speak for themselves.<\/p>\n On winning the competition: \u201cWe are away, still we are not ready. But in February we will be better. And of course when you play these kinds of games, you are ready to go. We\u2019ve been here and played much better in the past and lost, so football sometimes [is like that]. Coming here is always difficult, that\u2019s why I take it, but still margins to improve,\u201d he added. <\/p>\n Chris Wilson10 December 2025 22:49<\/p>\n <\/a>Guardiola reacts<\/p>\n Pep Gurdiola spoke to TNT just now. Here\u2019s what the Spaniard said: <\/p>\n \u201cWell, it could be better, of course it\u2019s so difficult. It\u2019s a process, we’ve got a lot of new players, but winning here I have to be happy, especially in terms of points, we have 13 already. It\u2019s in our hands to finish in the top eight, that\u2019s the target, and winning here after what happened at Leverkusen is good. <\/p>\n \u201cMatheus Nunes played good, Rayan Cherki first time [at the Bernabeu], today he made a great performance. I think Jeremy [Doku] it was the first, maybe the second, he helped us a lot with many things. <\/p>\n \u201cWe started with those mistakes, I always believe that when you have the ball, then you can do things, but I was expecting they could press higher, they drop, and the passes were too loose, not to hurt them. <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s okay, that\u2019s what we have to improve, we take it,\u201d he adds. <\/p>\n Chris Wilson10 December 2025 22:44<\/p>\n <\/a>More from Haaland<\/p>\n \u201cWe know about their injuries, we have some too but they have many. You don\u2019t want anyone to be injured but we expected him [Mbappe] to play. I expected to come up against Kylian today. But when a player like that is out – you\u2019re not happy because you want to play the best – but it gives you a bit of a psychological boost.<\/p>\n \u201cYou want to play the best players and after one minute [Raul] Asencio was trying to push me and beef with me which I like personally – I don\u2019t mind it. With Antonio Rudiger as well we have had some great battles, but today he wanted it too much and we got the penalty.<\/p>\n On whether City can chase down Arsenal in Premier League, he explains: \u201cI don\u2019t like to speak to much on this because we should focus on ourselves and City have been so good at that for 10 years, don\u2019t think about others and focus on ourselves. <\/p>\n \u201cNow we need to focus on Sunday – who is it? Palace on Sunday – games are coming fast. Look at the schedule it\u2019s incredible and it\u2019s about staying fit and taking it game by game and hopefully winning on Sunday\u201d<\/p>\n Chris Wilson10 December 2025 22:33<\/p>\n <\/a>‘These are games you want to play’<\/p>\n Manchester City striker Erling Haaland also spoke to TNT Sports: <\/p>\n “Difficult to come here, it’s a tough place. Game was a bit chaotic, we couldn’t really control it. We get the win in the end, [we\u2019re] super happy.<\/p>\n “This is a place you want to play, these are games you want to play. With this new format in Champions League you get to play more games which is nice. I like it.<\/p>\n “It could have looked completely different today if we didn’t win because of the Leverkusen defeat, this win is really important. Two more games left. We need to finish strong and hopefully we can be in the first eight because then we’re through,\u201d he added. <\/p>\n Chris Wilson10 December 2025 22:28<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/SEI277575935.jpeg\")
(Action Images via Reuters)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/SEI277561590.jpeg\")
(Mike Egerton\/PA Wire)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/SEI277577743.jpeg\")
(Mike Egerton\/PA Wire)<\/p>\n