Real Madrid’s dominant 4-0 win over Valencia on Saturday night kept their La Liga momentum rolling, but manager Xabi Alonso was quick to shift focus. The former Liverpool midfielder made it clear that his team’s attention has already turned to their next major challenge — a Champions League showdown with Arne Slot’s Liverpool at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Speaking after the victory, Alonso emphasized the importance of conserving energy and preparing mentally for the high-stakes European fixture.
“Things went well today. In the second half, we managed the game smartly because we knew we had a match on Tuesday,” Alonso said.
“Some players had played a lot of minutes, so we needed to stay focused and manage our energy. From tomorrow, it’s all about Liverpool — that’s our full focus.”
The win against Valencia keeps Madrid flying high domestically, but Tuesday’s clash will carry extra significance for Alonso, who returns to face his former club once again. His last trip to Anfield as a manager came during his Bayer Leverkusen days, when his side fell 4-0 to Liverpool in the Champions League.
For their part, Liverpool head into the tie with renewed optimism after finally snapping a poor Premier League run. Arne Slot’s men ended a four-game losing streak with a much-needed 2-0 victory over Aston Villa at Anfield — a result that brought relief to both the squad and supporters.
“I’m happy with the performance and the result,” Slot said after the match.
“It’s what we needed — from the players and from the fans. Maybe we were a bit luckier today than in previous weeks, but the response was excellent.”
Liverpool currently sit on six points from their opening three Champions League fixtures after wins against Atletico Madrid and Eintracht Frankfurt. Real Madrid, meanwhile, remain unbeaten and top of their group.
With both teams regaining confidence and form, Tuesday’s encounter at the Bernabéu is shaping up to be another electric European night — and Alonso’s warning leaves no doubt that Madrid intend to be fully prepared
