Real Madrid players, a wall of support around Xabi Alonso after the defeat to Manchester City

Real Madrid players gathered around Xabi Alonso after the defeat to Manchester City, offering the coach a "shield" of support in a tense moment for the team. Although Mbappé's absence was strongly felt, the leaders in the locker room conveyed that the responsibility for the defeat is a collective one and that Alonso remains the figure around whom the Madrid project is built. The atmosphere of unity contrasted with the defensive chaos on the field, in a spectacular night in the Champions League, ending with no less than 29 goals scored.