The ultimate Champions League matchweek of 2025 has wrapped up and it ended with a serious headline-grabbing fixture as on the Santiago Bernabeu stadium. For Pep Guardiola, it’s an amazing victory that sends his facet to fourth within the whereas for Xabi Alonso, the loss marks a second straight in all competitions, with simply two victories from the final eight matches.
The sport, which is these days thought-about considerably of an intercontinental clásico, began with fireworks and an aggressive intent from Los Blancos as they wished to make a press release.
Commercial
Alonso is at present going via considerably of a mini-turmoil in his first season as membership supervisor with studies of discontent throughout the dressing room. Issues haven’t gone nicely on the pitch both after a 2-0 loss to Celta Vigo this previous weekend that now has Actual Madrid 4 factors behind league chief Barcelona in La Liga.
So, the sport in opposition to Man Metropolis was crucial.
Kylian Mbappé, coping with a muscular drawback, missed the match and although Rodrygo ended a 32-match objective drought to present them the early lead, Man Metropolis shortly turned issues round with targets from Nico O’Reilly and an Erling Haaland penalty, holding on regardless of Thibaut Courtois’ heroics to win within the Spanish capital.
Commercial
In different matches Wednesday, Noni Madueke scored a beautiful brace whereas Gabriel Martinelli scored a wonderful third objective as Arsenal gained 3-0 in opposition to Membership Brugge thus ending the 12 months on the high of the desk and making historical past within the competitors by successful its first six video games. PSG drew with Athletic de Bilbao and it was a World Cup host theme for Juventus as USMNT’s Weston McKennie and Canada’s Jonathan David scored for Juventus within the staff’s 2-0 win over Pafos.
In the meantime on Tuesday, Liverpool earned an vital, morale-boosting 1-0 victory in opposition to Internazionale, Chelsea’s winless run continues with a 2-1 loss to Atalanta while Bayern Munich’s younger prodigious expertise Lennart Karl made Champions League historical past within the Bavarians’ 3-1 win over Sporting.
The League Section gained’t return till Jan. 20 and it’ll come again with two remaining matchweeks, however let me stress: the race for the automated high eight spots stays extraordinarily aggressive.
Commercial
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester Metropolis proved to be an excessive amount of for Xabi Alonso’s Actual Madrid.
(NurPhoto by way of Getty Pictures)WinnersPep Guardiola
The Catalan supervisor entered enemy territory in Madrid and led his staff to a formidable, resilient victory over Actual Madrid. He gambled on a number of substitutions within the second half however ultimately, due to his administration, Metropolis gained and ended the 12 months in fourth of the League Section desk.
Arsenal’s Noni Madueke
After dropping to Aston Villa final weekend, Arsenal returned to successful methods with a 3-0 victory over Membership Brugge and alongside Gabriel Martinelli’s improbable third objective, it was Noni Madueke who stole the present with an amazing double over the Belgian facet. His opener was a powerful left-footed thunderbolt from outdoors the field that despatched the Gunners right into a rhythm, prompting them to 3 factors and the highest of the League Section desk.
Commercial
Because of this Madueke got here to Arsenal from Chelsea final summer time, so he might change into an alternate on the best hand facet and permit Bukayo Saka to relaxation in matches that enable him to take action. Depth is essential in title-winning campaigns and Mikel Arteta is aware of that if there’s silverware to be gained, gamers like Madueke shall be key.
Bayern Munich’s Lennart Karl
The 17-year-old attacker turned the youngest participant in Champions League historical past to attain for the third straight sport as Bayern Munich got here from behind to win 3-1 in opposition to Sporting and conclude 2025 in second place and three factors behind Arsenal. There’s no denying his abilities and never since Thomas Müller have the Bavarians loved the star-driven inception of an academy product within the beginning XI.
Commercial
At 5-foot-6 with a really sturdy heart of gravity, it’s very tough to not see that his sport is much like a sure Argentine World Cup star. Whether or not his profession comes even near Lionel Messi’s is one other query however one factor is for certain, Lenny Karl is a powerful expertise and Bayern Munich may be very fortunate to have him.
With simply two wins in eight matches, Xabi Alonso’s Actual Madrid venture is on shaky floor.
(Europa Press Sports activities by way of Getty Pictures)LosersXabi Alonso
After dropping to Man Metropolis, the Actual Madrid supervisor is now in a particularly fragile scenario at a membership, a membership by the best way that calls for a lot, the place perfection is nearly a necessity. So now, Madrid has gained solely twice within the final eight matches and finds itself in seventh place within the League Section desk and 4 factors from Barcelona in La Liga. If the membership loses in opposition to Alaves on Sunday, and even draw — Florentino Perez’s endurance shall be near the end line.
Commercial
Chelsea
Regardless of taking the lead, Enzo Maresca’s facet misplaced 2-1 to Atalanta and with two matches remaining within the League Section, it most certainly appears that the Blues will want two wins from two with the intention to hopefully safe a top-eight automated spot.
After the sport, Maresca stated that his staff “misplaced management” of the scenario as soon as they conceded the equalizer and to be trustworthy, “dropping management” is just about inside Chelsea’s DNA. At its finest, it embraces the chaos however continues to be capable of maintain the defensive position. And in reality, even after 1-1, Chelsea ought to have scored a number of extra instances.
Commercial
However when issues usually are not going its method, cracks start to open and that’s what occurred on Tuesday in Bergamo, particularly as soon as Enzo Fernandez and Trevoh Chalobah have been changed on the break. Exterior of the field turned far more inviting and Atalanta’s Charles De Ketelaere, who was very spectacular, took full benefit organising for the opener and scoring the winner.
So far as Chelsea is worried, it’s now going via two straight loses and 4 with out a win in all competitions. Maresca is aware of that issues have to be tightened up.