Thursday’s briefing: Man City pile pressure on Alonso as Arsenal remain perfect

Manchester City came from behind to heap the pressure on Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso with a stunning 2-1 win at the Bernabeu Stadium.

Noni Madueke scored twice to fire Arsenal to a 3-0 victory at Club Brugge and all-but assure their qualification for the Champions League knockout stages with two group matches to play.

Alejandro Grimaldo broke Newcastle’s hearts as he struck late to deny them Champions League victory at Bayer Leverkusen.

City win at the Bernabeu to pile pressure on Alonso

Nico O’Reilly and Erling Haaland – his 51st goal from his 50th Champions League start – were on target as Pep Guardiola’s side got their European campaign back on track following last month’s shock loss to Bayer Leverkusen.

Both goals came in the final 10 minutes of the first half – Haaland’s from the penalty spot – as City replied to Rodrygo’s 28th-minute opener in an exhilarating contest.

Real had a number of chances to level but, with forward talisman Kylian Mbappe looking on from the bench injured, they were unable to take any of them.

Coming after Saturday’s dismal loss to Celta Vigo, it was a second defeat in quick succession for Real and a potentially decisive blow for under-fire manager Alonso’s job.

Arsenal make it six out of six in Brugge

Madueke opened his Arsenal account against Bayern Munich a fortnight ago and the England international was at it again in Belgium after 25 minutes.

The former Chelsea man picked up the ball just inside the hosts’ half before shrugging off the attention of left-back Joaquin Seys and then unleashing a venomous 22-yard strike which crashed off the underneath of the crossbar and into the net.

The second half was just 80 seconds old when Madueke had his second after he headed home Martin Zubimendi’s cross.

Gabriel Martinelli extended Arsenal’s advantage to three with a brilliant strike to become the first Arsenal player to score in five consecutive Champions League contests.

Newcastle denied at the death by Leverkusen

Substitute Lewis Miley looked to have claimed all three points for Newcastle at the BayArena with a 73rd-minute header after Anthony Gordon’s penalty had cancelled out Bruno Guimaraes’ unfortunate own goal.

However, after the Magpies had twice hit the post, Grimaldo snatched a 2-2 draw with an 88th-minute equaliser to leave Eddie Howe’s men wondering what might have been as they turned their attention to Sunday’s derby trip to Sunderland.

Chelsea on the brink after thrashing Roma

Chelsea are one win away from securing direct passage to the quarter-finals of the Women’s Champions League after thrashing Roma 6-0 at Stamford Bridge.

Sonia Bompastor’s side were in need of a victory to keep their fate in their own hands after dropping points against Twente and Barcelona and they achieved it in emphatic fashion, thumping their Italian visitors who are now eliminated.

It was also a welcome result coming as it did in the team’s first match since losing their 34-match unbeaten Women’s Super League record against Everton on Sunday.

What’s on today?

Nottingham Forest play Utrecht in the Europa League while Aston Villa travel to Basel.

Crystal Palace travel to Shelbourne in the Conference League.