Source: Alamy Stock Photo

City sink Real Madrid and place Alonso under mounting pressure

Manchester City deepened the troubles of Real Madrid and their manager Xabi Alonso, returning from the Santiago Bernabéu with an important 2–1 victory in Matchday 6 of the unified group stage of the UEFA Champions League.

Brazilian forward Rodrygo put Real ahead in the 28th minute with a powerful strike on the counterattack, but the hosts paid the price for defensive mistakes. First, goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois failed to control a header from Croatian defender Joško Gvardiol, allowing full-back Nico O’Reilly to pounce and score in the 35th minute.

Eight minutes later, German centre-back Antonio Rüdiger conceded a penalty after bringing down Erling Haaland in the area. The Norwegian striker stepped up and converted to give City the lead.

The result lifted City to fourth place in the group with 13 points from six matches, while Real Madrid dropped to seventh with 12 points after suffering their second consecutive defeat in LaLiga and the Champions League.

Without question, this latest setback has intensified the pressure on Alonso, whose side have won only twice in eight matches across all competitions over the past five weeks. The Madrid supporters voiced their frustration throughout the night with repeated whistles and jeers.

Meanwhile, English winger Noni Madueke scored twice and Brazilian Gabriel Martinelli added another in Arsenal’s 3–0 win away at Belgian side Club Brugge, giving the London club a perfect six-wins-from-six record.

Juventus, for their part, earned their first home victory in the Champions League this season, defeating visitors Pafos 2–0 thanks to second-half goals from American Weston McKennie and Canadian Jonathan David.

Both teams entered the match level on points, but Juventus secured back-to-back wins to move to ninth place with nine points, while Pafos sit 26th with six points.

Elsewhere, defending champions Paris Saint-Germain were held to a goalless draw by Spain’s Athletic Bilbao, though the Parisians remain well positioned to qualify directly for the Round of 16. Basque and Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón delivered a superb performance, producing a series of brilliant saves to deny the French and European champions.

The result leaves PSG in third place with 13 points, while Athletic Bilbao occupy 28th place with five points — just two behind the playoff positions.

PSG will play their next match away to Sporting CP of Portugal, while Athletic Bilbao travel to face Italy’s Atalanta.

It is worth noting that the top eight teams advance directly to the knockout phase, while the next sixteen compete in playoffs for the remaining eight spots.

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