Under-pressure Alonso upbeat for Man City clash

Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso faces mounting pressure ahead of Wednesday's Champions League group-stage meeting against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, but the Spaniard was confident the team could turn their poor form around.

- Agencies

Sunday's 2-0 loss to Celta Vigo, in which Real were reduced to nine players after defenders Fran Garcia and Alvaro Carreras were sent off, left the club second in La Liga with 36 points, four behind leaders Barcelona.

Adding to Alonso's challenges, Madrid could be without as many as eight key players, including top-scorer Kylian Mbappe, who missed training on Tuesday with a muscle injury.

“Football can change quickly... for good or for bad,” Alonso told a press conference on Tuesday. “After the Celta match, we've already drawn our conclusions.