Real Madrid Slip Again,Defensive Errors Cost Alonso’s Men Against Man City
How missed chances and small mistakes turned a strong performance into another painful defeat
Real Madrid looked sharp early on, even believing they had won a penalty when Vinicius Jr went down, only for VAR to rule the foul outside the box. Still, the pressure paid off. In the 28th minute, Rodrygo, Madrid’s most dangerous attacker on the night, finished brilliantly from a tight angle. It was his fourth goal involvement in his last three Champions League games, showing his growing influence.
But Madrid’s lead didn’t last. A routine corner turned into trouble when Thibaut Courtois spilled Josko Gvardiol’s shot, leaving 19-year-old Nico O’Reilly with a simple tap-in. The second setback came when Antonio Rüdiger pulled down Erling Haaland inside the box. The Norwegian, as expected, buried the penalty, his 29th Champions League goal before turning 26.
Chances Missed, Pressure Increased
Madrid didn’t fold. In fact, they created more than enough to draw level. Jude Bellingham fired over from close range with the goal wide open, Vinicius missed a free header and later sent a volley over, while teenage substitute Endrick rattled the crossbar late on.
The numbers tell the story: Madrid attempted six shots inside the box in the second half alone, but not one found the net.
Key Performers and Worrying Signs
Rodrygo was outstanding, Alvaro Carreras impressed down the left, but the defensive unit struggled again. Valverde and Asencio were repeatedly exposed by Jeremy Doku’s pace, while Rüdiger looked unusually shaky.
For Xabi Alonso, this is now back-to-back defeats, and although the performance had positives, the result adds real pressure. In a club where wins are the only currency, Madrid can’t afford many more nights like this, strong on the eye, but empty on the scoreboard.
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