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

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 &amp; Premier League previews on this episode of Just For Kicks! Photo: Kieran McManus/Shutterstock

New name, but same old fun! Join Kam Raslan and the football pundits on Just for Kicks as they take you through the weekend's football action, news and previews of games in the English Premier League and beyond.

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