Who: Real Madrid vs Manchester City
Content: UEFA Champions League
Location: Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid, Spain
Date and time: Wednesday, December 10th, 9pm (20:00 GMT)
How to follow: All content will be broadcast on Al Jazeera Sports from 17:00 GMT, ahead of the text commentary stream.
Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso faces mounting pressure ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League group stage clash with Josep Guardiola’s Manchester City, but the Spaniard was confident his team can turn around their poor run of form.
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Alonso, a former Real Madrid and Spain midfielder, took over from former manager Carlo Ancelotti at the end of last season but has struggled to make an impression in a team that underperformed last season.
Expectations for this match are even higher on Wednesday, when a City team led by former Barcelona midfielder and manager Guardiola stand in their way.
Al Jazeera Sports covers the league matches in detail.
Where do Real Madrid and Man City stand in the Champions League?
Real are in fifth place in the Champions League table with 12 points, three behind leaders Arsenal. City are ninth in the table with 10 points and are aiming for a top-eight finish to qualify directly for the last 16.
What happened in Real Madrid’s last match?
On Sunday, Real lost 2-0 to Celta Vigo, with defenders Fran Garcia and Alvaro Carreras sent off, leaving Real with nine men.
This puts the club in second place in La Liga with 36 points, four behind leaders Barcelona, while the Whites have only won two of their last seven games in all competitions.
In addition to Alonso’s challenges, Madrid could be without up to eight key players, including top scorer Kylian Mbappé, who missed Tuesday’s training with a muscular injury.
It would be a huge blow to Alonso if Mbappe misses Wednesday’s game against City, with Spanish media reporting that a defeat could lead to his sacking.
What happened in Man City’s last game?
City maintained their chances of winning their fifth Premier League title in six seasons with a 3-0 win over Sunderland in England’s top flight on Saturday.
Goals from Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol and Phil Foden gave City their third successive Premier League win.
What did Madrid coach Alonso say about the challenge to Real?
Despite disappointing results in recent weeks, Alonso remains optimistic.
“Football can change quickly, for better or for worse,” Alonso said at a press conference on Tuesday. “After the game against Celta, we have already come to a conclusion.
“Right now we’re only thinking about City. We have the Champions League and we’re at the Bernabéu. Things will change because of the energy that will be generated. That’s what’s on our minds and what’s ahead of us.”
“We are all in this together. We are United. We believe this is our chance. We need the energy to connect with the Bernabéu. If we do that, we have a chance to win.”
“In football you have to adapt and learn. Some days you’re good, some days you’re not,” Alonso added.
“But we are improving game by game. It’s good that we have a challenge tomorrow. The best way to move forward is to face it. This is a challenge we have to rise to.”
Real Madrid vs. Man City never disappoints 🍿 #UCL pic.twitter.com/G2SN3Uaoqi
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) December 5, 2025
Is Alonso’s position at Real Madrid really under threat?
Alonso remained defiant when asked if his job was at risk if Real faltered against City.
“When you coach Real Madrid, you have to prepare for situations like this. We are a team and we are all united,” he said.
“It’s normal to overcome disappointment, but all we’re thinking about right now is City.”
Guardiola expresses support for former staffer Alonso
Guardiola coached Bayern Munich between Barcelona and Manchester City, where Alonso played for fellow Spaniard.
“I wish him nothing but the best. I love him and I appreciate him,” Guardiola said.
“Each team is different and Xavi understands what he has to do. It’s a process and let’s see how this ends.”
“The season is a rollercoaster. There are injuries, things happen. Since coaching at Barcelona, I wanted to grow the team from October and then see what happens and how it ends.”
Statistical attack – Mbappe vs Haaland
Mbappé’s absence will be a huge blow to Alonso’s team. The Frenchman has topped the scoring charts in La Liga and the Champions League this season.
The 26-year-old striker has been a key player for Madrid this season, scoring 25 goals in 21 games in all competitions.
Mbappé and Man City’s Erling Haaland first faced each other in the Round of 16 in February 2020. Haaland, who recently joined Borussia Dortmund and scored twice in the first leg against Paris Saint-Germain, revealed that he had a “Zen” goal celebration, sitting cross-legged as if meditating. Mbappé and PSG won in Paris, winning 3-2 on aggregate.
Last season, in the knockout play-offs in February, Madrid beat Man City in both games, despite Haaland scoring twice in the first leg, with Mbappé scoring four goals, including a hat-trick in the second leg.
Mbappe scored four goals for Olympiakos last month and has emerged as this season’s top scorer in the Champions League. They need one more game to reach 10 in the Champions League for the first time in 10 years.
Haaland has scored five games so far and has already reached double figures in three Champions League games.
direct confrontation
Wednesday’s clash will be the 13th meeting between the two clubs in the past 10 years, but the rivalry has intensified with Real and City having won three of the last four Champions Leagues combined.
Real won the competition in 2022 and 2024, defeating City en route to both titles, while the English side lifted their first Champions League trophy in 2023 by defeating the Spanish club in the semi-finals.
Real Madrid team news
Real Madrid’s French superstar Mbappé did not train with his teammates on Tuesday, the night before the team’s crucial Champions League game against City.
The player suffered a broken finger in Sunday’s La Liga defeat to Celta Vigo, but Madrid said his absence from training was not only due to that injury, but also due to other discomfort he felt during the match.
The 26-year-old joins an already full injured list that includes Dani Carvajal, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dean Huyssen, Eder Militao, David Alaba, Ferland Mendy and Eduardo Camavinga.
Manchester City team news
Defender John Stones missed the win against Sunderland with an unspecified injury.
City will undoubtedly be without Mateo Kovacic and Rodri, who continue to be absent due to injury.
Real Madrid’s projected starting lineup
Courtois. Valverde, Asensio, Rudiger, Carreras. Choameni, Ceballos. Guler, Bellingham, Vinicius Jr. garcia
Manchester City’s expected starting lineup
Donnarumma. Nunez, Diaz, Gvardiol, O’Reilly. Gonzalez. Cherki, Reinders, Foden, Doc. haaland
