How Manchester City fightback sealed sweet Champions League revenge on Real Madrid
If this is to prove the last game Pep Guardiola manages at the Bernabeu, what a way to go. And if it ends up as Xabi Alonso’s final match in charge of Real Madrid, what a quick, undignified end.
Perhaps, then, it was fitting that an eight-minute meltdown brought Real a second successive home defeat. First Celta Vigo, now Manchester Cityhave triumphed at the Bernabeu. A team with a mere two victories in eight games represent a club with a culture of impatience.
But as Alonso was beaten by a mentor, Guardiola’s seventh win at the Bernabeu may have been his most unlikely, for all Real’s 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.
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Chris Wilson10 December 2025 22:21
Champions League results
The scores elsewhere tonight:
- 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
Chris Wilson10 December 2025 23:30
Pundits rally behind Alonso
Former Madrid defender Jonathan Woodgate says that it would be a strange decision for the club to sack Alonso at this point.
“I 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,” he explains.
“You may as well hire someone else who is older and a bit wiser. You have to stick with Alonso – you have to!
“You have brought him in from Bayer Leverkusen where he did an incredible Job.
“If they sack him, it will be a shocking decision. He just needs to be given time,” he added.
Chris Wilson10 December 2025 23:15
Bellingham: ‘This is what I’ve signed up for’
England and Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham was last to speak to TNT Sports. Here’s what he said:
“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.
“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.”
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.”
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.”
(Action Images via Reuters)
Chris Wilson10 December 2025 23:00
More from Guardiola
On O’Reilly’s performance, Guardiola adds: “Top. It’s difficult for him, [with] Rodrygo, what a player, Vinicius, Bellingham, the pace they have up front, it’s so dangerous, that’s why you can’t stay high. You have to commit in defence, we lacked a bit, but in general the effort was extraordinary.
On Haaland: “The 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.
On winning the competition: “We 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’ve been here and played much better in the past and lost, so football sometimes [is like that]. Coming here is always difficult, that’s why I take it, but still margins to improve,” he added.
(Mike Egerton/PA Wire)
Chris Wilson10 December 2025 22:49
Guardiola reacts
Pep Gurdiola spoke to TNT just now. Here’s what the Spaniard said:
“Well, it could be better, of course it’s so difficult. It’s 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’s in our hands to finish in the top eight, that’s the target, and winning here after what happened at Leverkusen is good.
“Matheus 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.
“We 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.
“It’s okay, that’s what we have to improve, we take it,” he adds.
Chris Wilson10 December 2025 22:44
More from Haaland
“We know about their injuries, we have some too but they have many. You don’t 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’re not happy because you want to play the best – but it gives you a bit of a psychological boost.
“You 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’t 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.
On whether City can chase down Arsenal in Premier League, he explains: “I don’t 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’t think about others and focus on ourselves.
“Now we need to focus on Sunday – who is it? Palace on Sunday – games are coming fast. Look at the schedule it’s incredible and it’s about staying fit and taking it game by game and hopefully winning on Sunday”
(Mike Egerton/PA Wire)
Chris Wilson10 December 2025 22:33
‘These are games you want to play’
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland also spoke to TNT Sports:
“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’re] super happy.
“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.
“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,” he added.
Chris Wilson10 December 2025 22:28
UCL table
That result takes City to fourth in the UCL league phase table, with 13 points. They should be qualifying in the top eight easily, with Bodo/Glimt to come next in Europe.
Madrid are now in seventh with 12 points, and they could also still make the top eight.
Chris Wilson10 December 2025 22:15
O’Reilly ‘over the moon’ with result
Goalscorer Nico O’Reilly has been speaking to TNT after the match. He says it’s “such a good feeling” to win here.
“To come here, what an atmosphere, what a stadium, so tough to come here but we got the three points and that’s the most important thing.
“Very special – over the moon. This goal will be with me forever but we got the three points and that’s the most important thing.”
On his game time of late, he says: “I’m loving it, taking it all in my stride, every game as it comes. Working hard every session and I’m loving it.
“We know how good Real are, we’ve played them over the last few seasons and they’re so good. It shows how well we’re playing at the minute and our form. We’ll have a good chance [to reach the final].
“First few minutes I was a bit slow, I could’ve stopped that first goal, but I made up for it I think,” he added as he finished.
Chris Wilson10 December 2025 22:10
