Real Madrid’s 2-1 defeat to Manchester City in the Champions League didn’t just sting—it seemed to crack open the pressure cooker around Xabi Alonso, who now finds himself trying to steady a giant that’s suddenly stumbling. Injuries, missed chances and just two wins in eight have turned the Bernabéu’s usual roar into a restless murmur, even as stars like Bellingham, Courtois and Rodrygo rally around their coach. Alonso insists the dressing room is united, but the air feels charged: a club built on triumph is flirting with turbulence, and the question hanging over Madrid is whether this rough patch is merely a blip —or the start of something far more destabilizing.That plus other European action & Premier League previews on this episode of Just For Kicks!Photo: Kieran McManus/Shutterstock