13 h. ago Xabi Alonso faces brutal Real Madrid reality amid Arne Slot sack pressure at Liverpool

Xabi Alonso is under pressure at Real Madrid, with the former Liverpool midfielder's future at the Santiago Bernabeu in doubt

Events

42 h. ago Football Daily | Shrill whistles and sycophancy, but still extreme heat on Xabi Alonso

Sign up now! Sign up now! Sign up now? Sign up now!Going into Wednesday night’s match against Manchester City, Xabi Alonso’s future as head coach of Real Madrid seemed as up in the air as a Spanish omelette being flipped by celebrity chef Keith Floyd in his pomp. Just 14 games into his reign, the only unsightly blot on the 44-year-old’s copybook had been an unacceptable 5-2 hammering at the hands of Atlético. But, since the start of November, Madrid have only won three in nine, with arguably their most unpalatable results coming in the form of draws with supposed La Liga cannon fodder, including Elche and Girona, culminating in Sunday’s embarrassing home defeat at the hands of Celta Vigo. In Bigger Cup, they still look set fair to secure an all-important top eight spot despite their reverse at the hands of City, a defeat which was greeted by shrill whistles of disapproval from hard-to-please fans who had actually just seen their knack-ravaged team play reasonably well. Continue read...

Politics

43 h. ago Xabi Alonso walking thin line at Madrid even with dressing room backing

Despite signs of renewed intensity, Real Madrid fell to their second loss in four days against Manchester City. How long can a positive reaction overshadow negative results?No attacker in Real Madrid’s history had gone without a goal for as long as Rodrygo but at last he was released and he had a message to deliver, performed for public consumption. The Brazilian, who had not scored in nine months and was starting only his fifth game this season, beat Gianluigi Donnarumma to give them the lead against Manchester City. Then he turned and ran towards the touchline to embrace Xabi Alonso, the manager on the edge for whom this could prove an even greater release.“It’s a difficult moment for him, like it is for us,” Rodrygo said. “Things aren’t coming off and I wanted to show people that we are together with the coach. People say a lot of things and I just wanted to show that we are united. We need that unity to keep going.” By the time Rodrygo spoke, the lead had been taken from them, a...

Politics

44 h. ago Real Madrid make Xabi Alonso sack decision after Man City defeat and 'lies' claim

Real Madrid lost a home game for the second time in four days as Manchester City became the latest side to beat them, cranking up the pressure on manager Xabi Alonso

Politics

44 h. ago Champions League review: Liverpool sidestep Salah saga as Chelsea slip up

Manchester City conquer the Bernabéu, Liverpool survive without Mohamed Salah and Atalanta find Chelsea’s flaws• To say that Pep Guardiola and Real Madrid have history is to put it mildly. At Barcelona, Guardiola grew up amid an obsessive enmity on both sides, one deepened by his term as the Catalan club’s coach. They are highly familiar with Manchester City, too. City met Madrid for the fifth season in succession on Wednesday. Despite Madrid’s recent struggles under Xabi Alonso, winning at the Santiago Bernabéu is a huge result, a deserved win where City might have been out of sight by half-time. Rodrygo scored his habitual goal against City but one of Guardiola’s new generation in Nico O’Reilly equalised before a controversial penalty award, converted by Erling Haaland, decided the game. A player linked with a move to Madrid sometime in the distant future celebrated with a smirk; Jude Bellingham’s attempt to distract by trying to yank Haaland’s ponytail did not work. After the sel...

Sport

46 h. ago Jude Bellingham has ‘full faith’ as pressure increases on Xabi Alonso

Manchester City inflicted Real Madrid’s second straight home defeat on Wednesday, leaving them with only two wins in their last eight games.

Events

58 h. ago Real Madrid show fight but another setback leaves Xabi Alonso’s future on knife

The hosts battled against Manchester City but a second successive home defeat pushes manager towards exitOn the night they were going to sack him, Xabi Alonso watched his team rise against their fate and perhaps his, but fall again. He listened to the fans whistle and the final whistle, embraced the man who had been his mentor and then, defeated for the second time in four days here, disappeared straight down the Bernabéu tunnel without looking back. Real Madrid had taken the game to Manchester City, going ahead first and chasing another comeback later. But in the end, in the words of Rodrygo, whose first goal in 33 games had given them hope, “it was not enough”.The question now is whether it will be enough to rescue the coach Rodrygo had run to embrace, a gesture of solidarity on the edge of the abyss. Late last Sunday night in one of the offices here, some in the club’s hierarchy had been determined to get rid of the coach who had presided over two wins in seven. The sentence was ...

Politics

58 h. ago Pep Guardiola says Manchester City need to be better despite win at Real Madrid

The result lifted City to fourth in the league phase standings.

Politics

58 h. ago Real Madrid make Xabi Alonso sack decision after Man City defeat

New manager under pressure after run of two wins in seven

Politics

58 h. ago Real Madrid: Jude Bellingham issues Xabi Alonso verdict as pressure builds after Man City defeat

Briton backs his manager despite dip in form

Events

59 h. ago Jude Bellingham reveals dressing room's true feelings on Xabi Alonso amid sack pressure

Manchester City piled the pressure onto under-fire Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso with a comeback victory at the Bernabeu on Wednesday evening and one of his players has shared his thoughts on the scrutiny on his position

Events

59 h. ago How Manchester City fightback sealed sweet Champions League revenge on Real Madrid

Real Madrid 1-2 Manchester City: An Erling Haaland penalty completed the turnaround for the visitors and put more pressure on under-fire Madrid boss Alonso

Sport

59 h. ago Haaland seals Manchester City win at Real Madrid to leave Alonso on brink

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. Continue reading...

Politics

59 h. ago Real Madrid vs Manchester City live: Haaland penalty gives visitors Champions League win to pile pressure on Xabi Alonso

Real Madrid 1-2 Manchester City: An Erling Haaland penalty completed the turnaround for the visitors and put more pressure on under-fire Madrid boss Alonso

Sport

60 h. ago Real Madrid vs Man City LIVE: Champions League result, latest updates and reaction after gritty victory

Xabi Alonso on thin ice ahead of crunch fixture

Sport

60 h. ago Xabi Alonso on the brink as Erling Haaland adds to Real Madrid woes

REAL MADRID 1-2 MAN CITY: Pep Guardiola's side now seem destined for the knockout stages of the Champions League after coming from behind to win in Spain

Politics

61 h. ago Real Madrid vs Man City LIVE: Champions League latest score, match stream and goal updates

Xabi Alonso on thin ice ahead of crunch fixture

Sport

62 h. ago Liverpool receive clear Xabi Alonso manager verdict as glaring Real Madrid point made

Xabi Alonso is under mounting pressure at Real Madrid – and former Barcelona star Rivaldo has given his verdict on him replacing Arne Slot at Liverpool

Society

62 h. ago Real Madrid vs Manchester City live: Xabi Alonso under pressure as Kylian Mbappe starts on the bench in Champions League battle

Both sides could take a huge step towards finishing in the top eight of the Champions League league phase with a win tonight

Sport

64 h. ago Real Madrid vs Man City LIVE: Champions League match stream, latest team news, lineups, TV, prediction

Xabi Alonso on thin ice ahead of crunch fixture

Sport