PEP GUARDIOLA told his old pal Xabi Alonso he had to ‘pee on his own’ in his hour of need.
But going to the Bernabeu and winning – well, that really was taking the pee by the Manchester City boss.
As a Barcelona icon as a player and manager, he is one of the most unpopular men in Madrid anyway.
So for him to come back to Spain and pile more misery on his old rivals made it a bitterly frustrating night for the Bernabeu crowd.
And what now for his old Bayern Munich favourite Alonso? This defeat leaves him right on the brink after just seven months in charge.
To be fair Madrid did not look like a team not playing for their boss as they took a deserved lead through City’s old foe Rodrygo.
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But they fell apart at the end of the first half with Nico O’Reilly pulling the visitors level – before Erling Haaland won and converted a penalty.
This fixture has almost become a Champions League ‘derby’ in recent years – as this was a sixth visit to the Bernabeu in six years for City.
Yet for all the drama over the years, you have to go back to the first of those for the last time they won at the iconic home of the Spanish giants – back in February 2020.
But this looked like an opportunity for them with Madrid on a dismal run of form in their domestic league – leading to the pressure being cranked up on Alonso.
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They were also missing a bunch of key players with top scorer Kylian Mbappe only fit to be on the bench.
Yet you would never have known that Madrid were supposedly in ‘crisis’ in the opening half hour as they took the game to their visitors.
Matheus Nunes tripped Vinicius Jr as he went past him right on the edge of the area and French referee Clement Turpin pointed to the spot.
A quick check by the VAR showed the foul was marginally outside the box though so it was downgraded to a free-kick instead and the visitors were off the hook.
They conceded in the fourth minute here in February and that one could have been even quicker.
Fede Valverde’s resulting free-kick was deflected inches wide with Gianluigi Donnarumma scrambling.
Then a glorious sweeping pass from City’s nemesis Rodrygo picked out Vinicius Jr but he was closed down by Nunes and chipped his effort just wide.
Madrid were having plenty of joy down both wings and it was no surprise that was where the breakthrough came from.
England’s Jude Bellingham played a perfectly weighted ball into Rodrygo who took it in his stride and fired across Donnarumma into the far corner.
The Brazilian had not found the net for 32 games so you might have known he would end that sequence against City – he always seems to score against them.
But Guardiola would have loved the way his new-look team regained their composure and were level within five minutes.
Rayan Cherki’s corner was headed goalwards by Josko Gvardiol and Thibaut Courtois probably should have held on.
He spilled it and Nico O’Reilly was there to slot home the loose ball and pull the visitors level as Madrid’s appeals for a foul against Ruben Dias were waved away.
City had been handed a route back into the game – and they took full advantage.
O’Reilly swapped passes with Jeremy Doku before clipping over a cross that looked perfect for Haaland before he was man-handled to the ground by Antonio Rudiger.
Turpin did not give a penalty at first but was asked to go and have another look by the VAR – and the evidence was pretty clear.
Haaland missed his last spot-kick against Liverpool – but looked composed as he sent Courtois the wrong way.
Incredibly, City could have gone in two goals ahead but for Courtois making a brilliant double save to keep out Haaland and Rayan Cherki.
Despite being the better side for most of the first half, Madrid went in behind and Alonso must have been fearing the worst.
He spent two years playing under Guardiola at Bayern Munich – winning three major honours together.
There is a close bond between them but both know there is no room for sympathy on nights like this.
Madrid were out early for the second half and looked to get back on terms with Rodrygo playing in Bellingham.
The Three Lions man tried to chip Donnarumma but put too much on his effort and landed it on the roof of the net.
Yet City were making chances too – with Courtois just holding onto a deflected effort by Cherki that could easily have squeezed past him.
Then he had to dive full stretch to save from Doku – who was getting an increasing amount of space down his flank.
There have been so many late goals in this fixture over the years though – and Guardiola would not have been sitting comfortably in the dug-out.
A cross from the left by Rodrygo landed on the head of Vini Jr but he directed his header wide – and also fired a volley high over when he should have scored.
Sub Endrick then headed against the bar as Alonso started to realise it wasn’t his night and now has to await his fate.
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