Moods can sour quickly at Real Madrid but even then, the boos that rang around Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on Sunday following the team’s 2-0 loss to Celta Vigo were as clear a sign as any – manager Xabi Alonso is under scrutiny just six months after taking the helm.

Real Madrid’s once-promising season has taken a downturn, dropping from a five-point lead in LaLiga to a four-point deficit behind Barcelona within just a month. With only one win in their last five league outings, their Champions League performance has provided some relief, having achieved four victories out of five. Yet, the team is exhibiting cracks, struggling with cohesion due to a mix of injuries and tactical challenges.

They are now set to face Manchester City, who, despite Pep Guardiola’s ongoing rebuild, continue to secure victories, bolstered by the formidable presence of Erling Haaland.

How to watch Real Madrid vs. Manchester City, odds

• Date: Wednesday, Dec. 10
• Time: 3 p.m. ET
• Location: Santiago Bernabeu Stadium – Madrid, Spain
• Live stream: Paramount+
• Odds: Real Madrid +180; Draw +280; Manchester City +130

Alonso’s Vision Fails to Come Together

When Xabi Alonso took over from Carlo Ancelotti, he promised a transformation akin to his successful Bayer Leverkusen tenure, focusing on high pressing and structured attacking play. However, since their promising El Clasico victory, the team has faltered, hindered by injuries to key players like Trent Alexander-Arnold and Eder Militao. Despite starting strong with 13 wins in 14 games, inconsistency has become evident.

Alonso’s squad appears over-reliant on Kylian Mbappe, who has scored 26 goals this season alone, with others like Vinicius Junior struggling significantly.

Conflicting Personalities

Tension is brewing off the pitch, as conflicting personalities within the club have begun to surface. Reports indicate that club president Florentino Perez may consider terminating Alonso’s contract if the team loses to City. Additionally, Vinicius is reportedly hesitant to sign a contract extension due to his challenging relationship with Alonso.

Alonso: ‘The team is united’

Ahead of the clash against City, Alonso remained optimistic, stating, “We’re all together in this… we believe we can win tomorrow. This is the Champions League; we’re at the Bernabeu, and the atmosphere will be electric. That will generate a unique energy, including in the players.”

He acknowledged the challenges of being Madrid’s manager, emphasizing the need for adaptation and his desire for the team to turn disappointment into motivation for success.

Projected lineups

Real Madrid: Thibaut Courtois, Raul Asensio, Antonoi Rudiger, Alvaro Carreras, Fran Garcia, Aurelien Tchouameni, Federico Valverde, Franco Mastantuono, Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo, Vinicius Junior
Manchester City: Gianluigi Donnarumma, Abdukodir Khusanov, John Stones, Nathan Ake, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Nico Gonzalez, Rico Lewis, Tijjani Reijnders, Oscar Bobb, Jeremy Doku, Erling Haaland

Prediction

With Xabi Alonso’s job security already in question, the upcoming match against Manchester City is pivotal. Despite their struggles, City’s tactical execution has shown promise, while the weight of expectation at Real Madrid looms large as they look to regain momentum.