Match: Real Madrid vs Manchester City
Competition: UEFA Champions League – Group Stage
Date & Time: Wednesday, December 10, 2025, 9 PM (20:00 GMT)
Venue: Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain
Coverage: Pre-match build-up from 17:00 GMT on Al Jazeera Sport

Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso faces mounting pressure as his side prepares to host Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League. Despite a challenging run of form, Alonso expressed confidence that his team could bounce back in this crucial fixture.

---

Champions League Standings Ahead of the Clash

• Real Madrid: 5th place, 12 points, three behind leaders Arsenal
• Manchester City: 9th place, 10 points, fighting to secure a top-eight finish for last-16 qualification

Real Madrid suffered a 2-0 defeat to Celta Vigo in their last La Liga outing, with two players, Fran Garcia and Alvaro Carreras, sent off. The team has now won only two of its last seven matches across all competitions, leaving Alonso under scrutiny.

Manchester City, in contrast, is on a strong run, defeating Sunderland 3-0 in their last Premier League fixture with goals from Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, and Phil Foden. The win keeps City firmly in contention for their fifth league title in six seasons.

---

Injury Concerns

Real Madrid faces a potential blow with top scorer Kylian Mbappe missing training due to a muscle injury and a broken finger sustained against Celta Vigo. His absence could be critical against Manchester City. Additional injuries include Dani Carvajal, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dean Huijsen, Eder Militao, David Alaba, Ferland Mendy, and Eduardo Camavinga.

Manchester City will be without Mateo Kovacic and Rodri, while John Stones remains doubtful after missing the Sunderland match.

---

Xabi Alonso on the Challenge

Alonso acknowledged recent difficulties but emphasized resilience and focus on the Champions League. “Football can change quickly … for good or for bad,” Alonso said. “Now it’s just City in our minds. We’re at the Bernabeu, and the energy there is different. We have a chance to win.”

Asked about the security of his job, Alonso remained composed: “When you coach Real Madrid, you have to be prepared for situations like this. We are all united. To reverse the disappointment, we are focused entirely on City.”

---

Pep Guardiola Supports Former Player

Guardiola, who coached Bayern Munich when Alonso was a player, expressed support for his former colleague. “I only wish him the best. Every team is different, and Xabi knows what he has to do. A season is a roller coaster; injuries happen. We’ll see how it ends,” Guardiola said.

---

Star Players and Key Stats

• Kylian Mbappe: 26 years old, 25 goals in 21 matches this season, top scorer for both La Liga and Champions League
• Erling Haaland: Manchester City striker, 5 goals in this Champions League campaign, multiple seasons in double figures
• Head-to-head: Wednesday’s fixture marks the 13th meeting in the past decade, with Real Madrid winning Champions League titles in 2022 and 2024, and City lifting their maiden trophy in 2023

---

Predicted Lineups

Real Madrid (4-3-3):
Courtois; Valverde, Asencio, Rudiger, Carreras; Tchouameni, Ceballos; Guler, Bellingham, Vinicius Jr; Garcia

Manchester City (4-3-3):
Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly; Gonzalez; Cherki, Reijnders, Foden, Doku; Haaland

---

Key Takeaways

• Real Madrid needs a victory to stabilize Alonso’s position and boost confidence for the final group-stage matches
• Manchester City aims to secure top-eight qualification and maintain momentum in both domestic and European competitions
• Injury to Mbappe could define Real Madrid’s attacking capabilities, while Guardiola’s tactical flexibility remains a significant threat

The Santiago Bernabeu promises a high-stakes showdown as two of Europe’s elite sides battle for Champions League progression.