Real Madrid will host Manchester City at home, and Alonso says the team is ready.

2025-12-10 03:10

Real Madrid will host rivals Manchester City in a Champions League group stage match, and manager Xabi Alonso says the team is ready for the game.

At the pre-match press conference, Alonso emphasized that the game would create a classic Champions League atmosphere, and that the players understood the importance of the match. Alonso said, "This is an excellent opportunity for us to accumulate more points in the Champions League. The players already know what kind of match we will face, and we hope to play well."

"The team is united and believes we can win tomorrow. To do that, we must play a good game and maintain a good rhythm and high intensity."

When discussing the team's current focus, Alonso said: "We've already learned from the Celta Vigo game, and now we're only thinking about Manchester City. The atmosphere at the Bernabéu will be special and different because of the build-up of energy, and that's the only thing on our minds right now."

Facing Guardiola and Manchester City in the upcoming match, Alonso admitted: "Not only me, but the players and fans around the world know the importance of this game. We have faced Manchester City many times in recent years, and we know it is a huge challenge, but I now see it as an opportunity."

“This team has been under Guardiola's leadership for eight years, going through different phases and different lineups, and constantly evolving. This year they have new signings and some important players leaving. We know what kind of game they will bring; they are definitely a strong opponent.”

Real Madrid currently sits in 6th place in the Champions League group stage with a record of 4 wins and 1 loss in 5 matches. Facing pressure, Alonso has shown composure and determination, and hopes the team can deliver a high-quality performance with the support of the Bernabéu.