Lee Dixon: City can hold stuttering Real by nullifying Alonso

Xabi Alonso is the key man for Real Madrid
Ahead of flying out to Madrid to cover Man City's trip to the Bernabeau, Lee Dixon explains how stopping Xabi Alonso from controlling the tempo of the game can help Roberto Mancini's men nab a point in their Champions League opener
Early Champions League games can be cagey, twitchy affairs but with two powerhouses of European football coming face to face I'm expecting a full-on affair.
City would snap your hand off for a draw, but it could be a good time to play Madrid. They are struggling a bit at the moment, coming off the back of a defeat to Sevilla over the weekend and currently sitting in tenth in La Liga. There will be plenty of pressure on Madrid from the home fans and this will only increase if City can make a good start.
It was the start that set the tone of Sevilla's victory over Real - they put Madrid under pressure from the first whistle and, most importantly, got players around Xabi Alonso.
The former Liverpool man is a massive player for Madrid; he sets the tempo and is comfortable playing it short or long. This makes life very difficult for the defenders as you don't know where to set the defensive line. If the other team is just playing it short you can make the pitch nice and compact, but Alonso's ability to switch the play and hit quick balls over the top can be very effective.
Sevilla countered Alonso's threat by playing Ivan Rakitic in and around him meaning he had no time on the ball and it worked well. In Yaya Toure, City have got a player who is well suited to playing high up the pitch in a defensive-style role, but still with the ability to attack when possible.
Of course, Madrid's midfield options don't end with Alonso - it will be interesting to see where Luka Modric fits in to the equation - but every time I have seen Real, the Spaniard has been the key player, so City need to address his threat.
Looking at the Match Odds, the draw at 4.1n/a immediately jumps out as the value bet. I can't see City winning, but they are well capable of nicking a point. Of course, Madrid can rip anybody to pieces when and their poor form could actually work against City in that the home team will be like wounded tigers, but I sense - and hope - that City can frustrate them.
With this in mind, I also like the look of 0-0 at half-time at 3.45n/a with a nervous Madrid and an organised City cancelling each other out for the opening period.
- For a full betting preview of the game, with recommended bets on the Match Odds, Over 2.5 Goals and Bookings Odds markets, check out Tobias Gourlay's analysis
Betfair TV: Real Madrid v Manchester City video preview
Can Manchester City get anything from the tough trip to Madrid? In the latest exclusive video preview from the Betfair TV team, Dave Farrar, Alan Thompson and Michael Cox discuss the game while there are stats from Opta's Matt Furniss and insight from former Spurs and Crystal Palace defender Gary O'Reilly.