Real Madrid vs Manchester City 1-2: UEFA Champions League – as it happened

That is it for our live coverage of Real Madrid against Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League.

It is another painful defeat for Los Blancos, but – for now – their manager remains in a job.

We hope to see you again for more live action on Saturday. In the meantime, you can stick with Al Jazeera Sport for all the news and features from around the world of sport.

For now, though – from me, Kevin Hand, and Patrick Keddie – it’s goodbye.

Liverpool against Brighton in the English Premier League on Saturday is our next live offering on Al Jazeera Sport.

Do join us for the game if you can, and check out all the build-up beforehand and on Friday, when the talk will inevitably centre around the future of Mohamed Salah once again.

“We’re dealing with injuries, but our players are giving it their all, so we have nothing to complain about today. I really appreciate the attitude of the players on a daily basis, and we have to keep going,” he said.

As the game wore on and Madrid failed to capitalise on several chances, the crowd grew restless, and the team were whistled off at full-time.

Alonso described that reaction as normal and said he was prepared to be self-critical of what he described as a mixed performance.

“When you don’t win at home, [whistling] can happen, but there have been other times when they have supported us,” he said.

Click here to read our full match report following the match at Bernabeu. Or click here to read our review of all the evening’s Champions League games.

The goals just keep coming for Haaland, who has had a fine start to his Champions League career.

51 - Tonight is Erling Haaland's 50th start in the UEFA Champions League, in which he has scored 51 goals - the most goals ever by a player in his first 50 starts in the competition. Unerring. pic.twitter.com/iqsPQnDjIG

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 10, 2025

We are yet to hear from the Real Madrid manager. Equally, there are no immediate rumours at Bernabeu that the pre-match speculation that Alonso would be sacked in defeat is likely to come to fruition.

“It wasn’t enough [the performance]; we go away very frustrated,” Rodrygo told Movistar Plus.

“We had a great first half, we wanted to start strong, we scored … we need to improve.

“These matches are decided by details, set pieces … that’s why it’s frustrating for us because we train for it and it happens. But anyway, we have to keep going.”

“We are still trying to work it out within the changing room, regardless of what is said outside – we know that kind of noise is not helpful,” Bellingham told TNT Sports.

“We are conceding early, and it is not helping the way we want to play. We have the manager that can help us.

“The manager has been great, I personally have a great relationship with him, and I know so do a few players.

“After a run of draws, we thought we would go on a run after that, but we know we need to pick up again and take it on the chin.

“This is what I’ve signed up for – one of the most scrutinised teams in the world. I roll with the punches and focus on the football.”

“It could have been better, but Bernabeu is so difficult,” the Man City manager told TNT Sports.

“Five or six players played their first game here, so we were not completely read,y but it is part of the process.

“The top eight is the target, and winning here after losing at Leverkusen is very good.

“The pace they have up front is so dangerous, you cannot stay high up the pitch and have to commit – the effort was extraordinary.

“Haaland’s numbers speak for himself, we have to find him more and make sure he is more involved in the game. We have to think about how to make him more involved.

“We are a long way [from winning the Champions League] – still not ready. In February, we will be much better, but one wrong pass and we lose today.

“The players made an incredible effort, and the spirit is unbelievabl,e but there is still some way to go.”

Things are tightening up for Arsenal in the Premier League, with Man City now hot on their tails, but the Champions League is providing a relentless run for the Gunners:

😳 Six wins, one goal conceded.

Can anyone stop Arsenal? #UCL pic.twitter.com/5yqnm0sTpU

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) December 10, 2025

No news from the Real Madrid camp, but we hope to also hear from the man who is the talk of the town, Alonso.

“It is a tough place to come, and the game gets how it gets – with loads of transitions,” the City striker told TNT Sports.

“We had lots of chances, but the game is chaotic and we struggled to control it.

“These are the games you want to play, and with this new format, you get to play more UCL games. I like it.

“It could have looked completely different if we didn’t win because we lost against Leverkusen. We have two games left, and we need to finish strong to reach the top eight.

“We knew about their injuries – of course, you don’t want anyone to be injured – and I thought Mbappe was going to play. You are not happy because you want to play against the best, but it gives you a psychological boost.

“You could see after one minute, Asencio was trying to beef with me and push me a lot. I like the battles. It was the same with Rudiger – and he did it too much and gave away the penalty.

“City has been good at focusing on themselves and focusing on the next game – Palace on Sunday – which is tough.

“It is about enjoying this now, staying fit, and hopefully winning on Sunday.”

City are fourth with 13 points, while Real are seventh with 12 points.

Four teams are level on 12 points, from Inter in sixth, Atletico Madrid in eighth, to Liverpool in ninth.

The top eight all qualify directly for the round of 16, while the following 16 teams go into the playoffs.

All teams have played six games.

Another night and another Champions League win for Arsenal:

Madueke scores two as Arsenal stay perfect 💯#UCL pic.twitter.com/RXlFHIFDnV

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) December 10, 2025

Former Real Madrid winger Steve McManaman told TNT Sport that he didn’t get the feeling Los Blancos would pull the plug on their manager.

“They didn’t look like a side that weren’t playing for their manager,” McManaman said. “Alonso has been unlucky losing Mbappe, and they were down to their bare bones anyway.”

Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard was alongside McManaman and echoed the thoughts of his colleague.

Time will tell, but the speculation was rife leading up to the game.

Real had 16 efforts on goal – but only one on target.

City had 12 and 8, respectively. It could have been a lot worse for Real but for Courtois keeping the away side out time and again.

He may have felt guilty for Real’s goal, but he scored one of his own and his performance resulted in the Player of the Match trophy.

“Over the moon with it, very special,” the City defender said of his goal in conversation with TNT Sport.

“The most important thing was the three points, and that is what we got. Such a good feeling, what an atmosphere and stadium to play in.

“We know how good Real Madrid are; we’ve played them over the last few seasons. Winning here shows how well we are playing.

“I’m loving it and taking it all in my stride and trying to enjoy it.

“The first few minutes, I was a bit slow and I could have stopped the first goal, but I think I made up for it.”

Real Madrid somehow finished with a 52 percent share of the ball, having conceded an overwhelming amount of the possession in the first half.

Not only back-to-back defeats for Real – but both games were at home. There were whistles at the end, but no particularly noticeable boos.