City 2–1 Real: Guardiola applauds resilience, Alonso praises players' attitude

Manchester City's 2–1 victory over Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday was more than a group-stage triumph— it was a showcase of character from both dugouts, a night where Pep Guardiola hailed resilience and Xabi Alonso praised attitude despite defeat. The match, played under the iconic Madrid lights, offered another vivid chapter in the evolving rivalry between two modern European powerhouses.

City started the evening looking uncharacteristically fragile. For the opening half hour, Real Madrid swarmed them with intensity, exploiting gaps, forcing errors, and turning defensive hesitations into dangerous moments. Madrid's early breakthrough came courtesy of Rodrygo, who slammed home his first goal since March, igniting a crackling atmosphere inside the Bernabeu. For Guardiola, it was all too familiar: he had brought City here several times, often playing superbly but leaving empty-handed.

Yet on a night when the performance lagged behind their usual lofty standards, City found something equally important—resilience. The equaliser came almost out of nowhere. Thibaut Courtois misjudged a corner, spilling the ball into the path of young Nico O'Reilly, who reacted quickest to stab home the leveller. In that single moment, the emotional tide in the stadium shifted.

Guardiola admitted afterward that City had been "second best" during those early phases, but what impressed him most was how his side responded once back in the contest. "It was good to score a goal because it helped us get back into the game," he said. "I have to be so grateful to the players. I'm happy. We've been here many times and played much better than today but didn't win."

Minutes after O'Reilly's goal, City turned the game on its head. Antonio Rudiger was adjudged to have hauled down Erling Haaland inside the box, and the Norwegian striker—calm, ruthless, inevitable—steered his penalty beyond Courtois to give City the lead. From then on, the visitors settled, finally resembling the controlled, calculated machine European football has come to expect.

Jeremy Doku was the standout for City. His direct running, clever movement, and fearless dribbling repeatedly unsettled Madrid's patchwork defence. Guardiola was quick to highlight the winger's influence, calling him "outstanding" on a night when Madrid's counterattacks, led by Vinícius Júnior, repeatedly threatened to pull the game away from City.

For Xabi Alonso, the loss was painful but not dispiriting. His tenure since taking over in June has been turbulent, marred by injuries to key players including Eder Militao, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dani Carvajal, Dean Huijsen, and the marquee forward Kylian Mbappe. With a makeshift back line and a bench stretched thin, Madrid fought gamely but lacked the composure required in decisive situations.

"We're dealing with injuries, but our players are giving it their all," Alonso said. "I really appreciate the attitude of the players on a daily basis, and we have nothing to complain about today."

Madrid created chances late on but failed to capitalise, and as the final whistle sounded, a chorus of whistles echoed around the stadium. Alonso didn't shy away from acknowledging the fans' frustration. "When you don't win at home, it can happen," he said. "We have to keep going and be self-critical."

City's win lifted them to 13 points and kept their hopes of a top-eight finish firmly within reach. For Guardiola, the performance was far from perfect, but the result was priceless. As he noted, "I know that in February and March, if we go through, the level we require is higher than today."

For Madrid, the journey continues with a LaLiga test against Alavés on Sunday. For City, the Champions League road grows tougher but brighter. And for both managers, the night reinforced a simple truth: excellence may win matches, but resilience and attitude carry you through the storms.