Rodrygo is not enough and City leaves Xabi Alonso lifeless at Real Madrid

1. Xabi Alonso in Valdebebas before the match
2. Guardiola's advice and tactical decisions
3. Rodrygo's performance and Real Madrid's pressure
4. Manchester City's recovery
5. Goals and key moments of the match
6. Real Madrid's commitment and difficulties
7. Reactions from the Bernabéu and the club's stance

Xabi Alonso in Valdebebas before the match

Alone. With a lost look in his eyes. Not talking to anyone. That's how Xabi Alonso left Valdebebas on his way to the Real Madrid bus at seven in the evening. The players formed their groups, talked, laughed or listened to music, but Alonso didn't exchange a single word with his assistants or any of the players. He knew his days were numbered, although the manner of the defeat to Manchester City did not speed up the process. 

Guardiola's advice and tactical decisions

‘Piss with his,’ Guardiola advised him before the match. The Catalan's crude comment had two meanings. On the one hand, it was a historical reference to Pep ‘pissing cologne’ because of his reputation as an exquisite, meticulous and extremely perfect coach, and on the other, it was a joke translated from Catalan that refers to the fact that everyone has to die with their ideas. And it seems that Alonso took some heed of his former Bayern Munich coach, because Gonzalo started in attack and Valverde at right-back. He didn't have many other options, but the Basque coach has been losing his influence over the line-ups to avoid upsetting his players.

Rodrygo's performance and Real Madrid's pressure

Rodrygo started and put on his best performance to play another great game against the club he will one day play for. It shows, and Guardiola seduces him in every game. The Brazilian scored the first goal and gave his all in every ball to show that he is back after nine months of sporting and, it seems, mental drought. Celta's apathy disappeared and the high pressure returned, aided by a City side that likes to run unless Guardiola says otherwise. Carreras became a lethal full-back on the break and Bellingham dominated the midfield with runs that took the ball to the edge of the area through sheer determination.

Manchester City's recovery

But City have already recovered from their bad year and know what to do with the ball again. Doku was a headache for Asencio, who managed to shut him down well, as he did with Haaland, but the winger's runs tested the Whites' sacrifice in defence.

Goals and key moments of the match

City's equaliser came from a corner that Courtois failed to clear and O'Reilly sent into the back of the net. Minutes later, VAR alerted Turpin that Rüdiger had held Haaland too tightly in the area and the Norwegian himself scored the final 1-2.

Real Madrid's commitment and difficulties

Real Madrid's commitment against City was total. It is true that they lacked football when Guardiola instructed his team to sit back so that Madrid would stop running, but this is the same thing that has happened to them this season against many teams in the Spanish league and which got worse on the day of the Rayo Vallecano match. Closed defences and a serious lack of ideas that Alonso does not know how to open up unless Mbappé (substituted due to discomfort) scores one of his many goals.

Reactions from the Bernabéu and the club's stance

The Bernabéu booed the players. There is still no backlash against Alonso because it is very clear that Bellingham, Valverde, Camavinga and Vinicius have decided to write him off and ignore his ‘boring videos’, as Florentino Pérez seems to be saying in the stands. The fans are pointing the finger at the players, but the club has sided with them, as could be seen with Vinicius' snub in El Clásico. All that remains is for Xabi to shake off his lethargy and monotony in front of the media and win over a dressing room that has more power than it should. And to do so on his own terms, in his own way.