For Xabi Alonso, the slide towards the abyss has looked sudden from the outside. Everything was fine at the beginning of November, the results excellent. Since when precious little has gone his way. The Real Madrid manager desperately needed something here. When this latest game eluded him, it was easy to fear the worst. Time is not a commodity afforded to men in his position.
Alonso has now won only twice in eight matches in all competitions and if his pain was deep, there was simply satisfaction for Pep Guardiola. The Manchester City manager had arrived in Madrid – the scene of so much emotion for him over the years – needing a response to the home defeat to Bayer Leverkusen in his club’s previous Champions League game.
Guardiola got his lineup wrong that night and he took no chances on this occasion, going as strong as possible. The result was a come-from-behind victory that tasted extremely sweet.
Madrid were set fair when Rodrygo scored for the first time in 33 club-level appearances but the whistles from the home fans would be shrill when it was all over. Nico O’Reilly equalised for City with his first Champions Leaguue goals and it was Erling Haaland – who else? – who got what proved to be the winner from the penalty spot. Madrid fought until the last. It was not their night. And it certainly was not one for Alonso.
