
Despite murmurs of dressing room discontent, Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid are rolling. Their 4–0 victory over Valencia means they remain five points clear at the top of La Liga, but a tough away day beckons in Europe on Tuesday night.
Madrid have beaten Liverpool in a pair of Champions League finals since 2018, but the Reds prevailed in their previous head-to-head tussle. It was a rare triumph for the Premier League club, but one which indicated the directions the two teams would be heading in 2024–25.