Struggling Real Madrid Pin Hopes on Mbappe Spark in Clash with Haaland's City
Real Madrid urgently require their star forward Kylian Mbappe to deliver his exceptional form on Wednesday during a crucial Champions League encounter with Manchester City and their relentless goalscorer Erling Haaland.
Following only two triumphs in their last seven outings, divisions are appearing in Xabi Alonso's vision for Madrid, as certain outlets in Spain suggest a loss to City might result in an early exit for the manager.
This term, Madrid have frequently disappointed yet been saved by Mbappe's devastating prowess, with 25 strikes in 21 appearances placing him at the top of the goal tallies in Spain and the Champions League.
Pep Guardiola's City side is led by the Norwegian ace Haaland, boasting 20 goals from 20 fixtures in various tournaments, and alongside Harry Kane of Bayern Munich, he stands as Mbappe's sole competitor for the premier performer of the campaign.
The duo will also meet in the forthcoming World Cup in the United States next summer, as Mbappe's France takes on Haaland's Norway on June 26 in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
The opening act of their rivalry unfolds at the Bernabeu, where ex-Barcelona tactician Guardiola would delight in exacerbating Madrid's woes.
This campaign, City revolve around Haaland, tailoring their play to his attributes and directing most attacks towards him in scoring positions.
Whatever framework Alonso sought to establish at Madrid has eroded due to conflicts over authority with the squad, though Mbappe's excellence positions him as their central asset.
"The squad appears dull and lacking motivation, revolving around Mbappe, whose tallies simply conceal the turmoil," noted Spanish publication AS on Sunday following a 2-0 loss at home to Celta Vigo.
"Should he rest for a day, no backup exists."
Mbappe has remained Madrid's steadfast performer this season, excelling during a streak of 13 victories in 14 matches when the side was strong, and also lately amid their difficulties.
After a gradual adjustment to Spanish football post his transfer from Paris Saint-Germain in summer 2024, Mbappe hit peak performance in the latter part of the previous term.
In 2025, he has netted 55 times for his team, just four shy of the 2013 benchmark of 59 established by Cristiano Ronaldo, his boyhood hero and Real Madrid's record scorer.
Divided Madrid
Mbappe has become a stabilising presence at Madrid, even as the group fragments nearby.
Alonso entered with intentions to assert a coaching style distinct from predecessors Carlo Ancelotti and Zinedine Zidane, who excelled in handling personnel but emphasised tactics and techniques less.
With Mbappe as his sole indispensable attacker, Alonso began the season rotating Vinicius Junior with Rodrygo Goes and Dani Carvajal with Trent Alexander-Arnold, frequently altering his lineup.
Jude Bellingham was out after shoulder surgery while Arda Guler flourished in central roles.
The side managed results through grit, but dissatisfaction brewed among key talents, erupting in Vinicius's outburst upon substitution during October's Clasico, a match Madrid secured.
Bellingham's recovery intensified selection pressures on Alonso, compounded by Fede Valverde's reluctance to shift to right-back.
A sequence of away games, partly due to the Bernabeu hosting an NFL event, fuelled their dip, as Alonso's pressing concepts faded and prominent players featured in every fixture.
Post a 1-1 stalemate at Girona in late November, Mbappe urged the group to "reveal our identity" and "shift this pattern".
"It's beyond just strikes for Kylian, but he contributes vital elements like guidance, impact, supporting colleagues, and that proves essential routinely," remarked Alonso, valuing Mbappe's pleas for cohesion.
Madrid routed Athletic Bilbao 3-0 recently, an exception in their current streak, with AS reporting the squad's drive stemmed from pledges of two rest days for a win.
Those breaks, enjoyed before the Celta setback, possibly aided the loss, which might have ended level had Mbappe's chip dipped beneath the bar instead of clipping it, with the visitors ahead by one.
It hinged on tiny margins, yet it would have exemplified Mbappe concealing the widening fissures once more. Still, facing City's power and Haaland in the turmoil's core, Alonso would accept even that for survival.