Real Madrid suffered a stunning 2-0 defeat at home against Celta Vigo, a match that saw them finish with only nine players on the pitch, prompting boos from the home crowd.
Celta Vigo, who were languishing in the lower half of La Liga prior to their visit to the Bernabeu on Sunday, had not secured a league victory against Real Madrid in their previous 22 encounters. However, a second-half double from Williot Swedberg marked Celta’s first triumph over Madrid since May 2014, significantly increasing the pressure on their manager, Alonso.
Currently, Real Madrid have managed only one win in their last five league matches and are poised to slip to third place in La Liga if Villarreal win their pending game. The evening was particularly difficult for both Real Madrid and Alonso, as they witnessed Fran Garcia and Alvaro Carreras receive red cards, adding to the sense of implosion at the Bernabeu.
Alonso’s appointment as Carlo Ancelotti’s successor during the summer break had generated considerable anticipation, especially considering his prior success.
Having previously managed Bayer Leverkusen for three years, he guided the German club to a noteworthy Bundesliga title in the 2023-24 season.
Real Madrid had a promising start to the season, but their performance has since faltered. Los Blancos have only managed to win two of their last seven games across all competitions, leaving them four points behind La Liga leaders and fierce rivals, Barcelona.
The disappointing loss to Celta Vigo came at a particularly inopportune moment, as Alonso had recently disclosed that he had engaged in discussions with club president Florentino Perez regarding the team’s recent decline in form.
Real Madrid’s inconsistent performance will again be scrutinised when they host Premier League powerhouse Manchester City at the Bernabeu.
According to Spanish media outlet AS, the upcoming Champions League clash is considered a ‘crucial test’ for Real Madrid and Alonso. However, they suggest that the unexpected defeat against Celta Vigo is not expected to have an immediate impact on his position as manager.
Following the Celta defeat, Alonso addressed the press, stating: “We are all angry, evidently this was not the game we wanted, it was not the result we wanted.”
“We have to try and turn the page as quickly as possible. It’s only three points.”
“We have the Champions League game against City to react in, and get this bad taste out of our mouths.”
When questioned about whether his job was at risk ahead of Real Madrid’s match against Man City, Alonso responded: “We’re playing for three Champions League points, that’s it.”
“We’re in a good position [in the Champions League], that’s what’s at stake. We want to perform well and play better than we did today.”
“We are all united, knowing that this is football, of course. We have to look forward. The demand we know what it is, the defeats hurt a lot, but you have to look forward.”
“It is the responsibility of all of this, together we must assume to do things well. We know that the points that go are important, but not decisive.”
Meanwhile, Manchester City prepared for their Champions League encounter with Real Madrid by securing a 3-0 victory against Sunderland at the Etihad Stadium.
Their three consecutive league wins have propelled Pep Guardiola’s team to second place in the Premier League standings, just two points behind leaders Arsenal.
Last season, Man City suffered a 6-3 aggregate defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League, and Guardiola is hoping his team will “play like who we are” this time around.
“It’s never an easy place,” former Barcelona manager Guardiola commented.
“We missed an opportunity against Leverkusen to be close but we are going to do our game and we have three options to get the points we need to go there [the knockout phase].”
“It’s another competition. Hopefully we can play like we are. Always I wish when you go to play on the big stages is play like who we are.”
Key Takeaways from Real Madrid’s Recent Struggles:
Shock Defeat: The 2-0 loss to Celta Vigo at home was a major setback, especially given Celta’s prior record against Real Madrid.
Disciplinary Issues: The red cards received by Fran Garcia and Alvaro Carreras highlight potential disciplinary problems within the team.
Managerial Pressure: The defeat has increased the pressure on manager Alonso, particularly with the upcoming Champions League match against Manchester City.
Form Dip: Real Madrid’s recent form has been poor, with only two wins in their last seven games across all competitions.
Champions League Focus: Despite the league struggles, Alonso is emphasizing the importance of the Champions League and the need to improve performance.
Guardiola’s Perspective: Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola acknowledges the difficulty of playing against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu and hopes his team can perform to their full potential.
The Road Ahead for Real Madrid:
Champions League Clash: The upcoming match against Manchester City is crucial for Real Madrid and could significantly impact Alonso’s future at the club.
La Liga Recovery: Real Madrid needs to improve their league form to close the gap with Barcelona and secure a top spot in the table.
Team Unity: Alonso has emphasized the importance of team unity and the need to move forward despite the recent setbacks.
