Spanish media turn on Real Madrid with ruthless verdict after Liverpool loss

Liverpool sealed an emphatic 1-0 victory over Real Madrid to get their Champions League campaign firmly back on track - and the reaction in Spain to Los Blancos' display has been nothing short of scathing

Real Madrid have been taking a battering in Spanish media after losing to Liverpool in the Champions League. Alexis Mac Allister's second half goal sealed a 1-0 win for the home side, but if it weren't for Thibaut Courtois' heroics between the sticks, it could have been far worse for Los Blancos.

The Spanish giants headed into the clash in imperious form, with not only a 100 per cent record in Europe, but 10 wins from 11 games in La Liga. Liverpool, on the other hand, had been wobbling for weeks - and were there for the taking after losing six games in all competitions in the space of a month.

But Arne Slot's Reds were well worth their win, with Conor Bradley keeping Vinicius Jr quiet and Jude Bellingham largely shut out by Ryan Gravenberch. Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, however, took aim at Kylian Mbappe, accusing the Frenchman of "going missing," particularly in the first half.

"All the mystique and epic nature that the match showed minutes before the ball started rolling, began to fade as the minutes passed and the game of the two teams became more physical than anything else," they wrote. "Especially [Real Madrid], who had a lot of the ball but without decisiveness.

"Although players like Vinicius or Bellingham got into the game a lot with it, not so other more lethal ones like Mbappe who was missing during the first half." The publication also gave Trent Alexander-Arnold - who came on as a second half substitute to a chorus of boos - a one-star review.

Cadena SER had Bellingham in their crosshairs, slamming the England international, as well as Mbappe, for refusing to help out defensively: "Real Madrid has a problem with aerial balls. Despite having players like Eder Militao, Aurelien Tchouameni, and Dean Huijsen, they struggle to defend aerial balls because other players like Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe don't track back to cover them."

Sport laid the blame squarely at the feet of manager Xabi Alonso, insisting the former Liverpool midfielder got it all wrong tactically. "Real Madrid suffered from complacency, forgetting to press after the 20-minute mark and letting themselves be dictated by Arne Slot's tactics," they wrote.

"And yes, the ultimate responsibility lies with those on the pitch, but the mistakes made in the mixed marking of a corner (Vinicius marking Van Dijk) or in the substitutions are and will be the responsibility of the coach - or his coaching staff, who, for the moment, have been unable to find the right formula for, for example, defending set pieces."

They also reserved praise for Bradley, who kept Vinicius quiet all evening: "In La Liga, with Vinicius consistently leaving his markers a foot behind, he'll benefit. However, if he encounters players like Bradley who can keep up with him, his advantage is minimised."

The performance was arguably Liverpool's best of the season so far - and one of Real Madrid's worst. The result leaves both sides level on nine points in the group phase, trailing only Arsenal and Bayern Munich, who have maintained perfect records with four wins from four.

It also marks a possible turning point for Slot's side. After a convincing victory over Aston Villa at the weekend and a solid victory against Frankfurt last month, the Reds have now taken three wins from their last five matches - a sign that their difficult spell may finally be behind them.

For Real Madrid, it's a case of picking up the pieces -and a stark reminder that even the most in-form sides can be undone by intensity, discipline, and a team with something to prove.