In the end, Xabi Alonso had just one word for Real Madrid's 5-2 loss to Atletico Madrid on Saturday: "bad". Well, duh!
Los Blancos had enjoyed an undefeated start to the season and, heading into the first Madrid derby of the year, seemed well-equipped to make something happen – perhaps even continue that run. Atleti were an unpredictable shambles of a side, a summer spending spree leading to mid-table irrelevance (albeit in a small sample size). Madrid were in fine form. Kylian Mbappe was scoring for fun. Arda Guler looked a wonderful fit under Alonso. All of the pieces were in place here.
That prediction aged like milk. Madrid were woeful against their crosstown rivals, a self-inflicted mess of disastrous defending and lack of effort in central areas, leading to a comprehensive 5-2 defeat. And in truth, it really could have been more.
It all leaves Madrid searching for answers a bit. They have leaned heavily on Mbappe thus far, but also looked really rather good as a unit. However, as soon as they faced a team that likes to disrupt, they crumbled. And that's the bigger worry. Madrid derbies are testy things, full of hard tackles and fierce individual duels.
And under real pressure for the first time this season, Los Blancos collapsed, meaning Alonso has had his rude awakening at Real. Now the new boss has to figure out how to react, maybe even rebuild, and prepare for more stern challenges that lie ahead. This job is never easy. But Alonso now knows just how hard it can be.
Getty Images SportEarly warning signs
Some will tell you that they could have seen this coming. Madrid's first real test under Alonso, arguably, came earlier this summer. Whether Madrid truly to win the Club World Cup is up for debate. But they certainly approached the transfer window like they wanted to.
A glut of new arrivals showed up in America for the tournament, and Alonso was the man tasked with piecing them all together – despite having less than two weeks as actual manager of the club.
They looked beleaguered in the group stage, and when it came down to the big names, they were miles off the pace. Madrid were battered by somehow-not-champions PSG in the semi-final, and, in truth, never appeared remotely capable of turning that result around. Alonso claimed after the game that the loss was the final match of the previous season, and by no means an indication as to how things might look going forward.
"At the moment, we need a proper break. This is not the beginning of next year, this is just the end of this season," he said after the defeat.
And there's some sense to that. Los Blancos endured a disastrous 2024-25 campaign. The Club World Cup felt like a bit of a wash. Sure, the loss stung, but it was perhaps a chance to refresh – not an indictment on the strength of the side. Well, so much for that idea…
AdvertisementAFPGetting the XI wrong
Atleti are not as good as PSG, but they certainly exposed the same weaknesses in Madrid's team.
The first, and most obvious problem that Alonso will repeatedly face here is the lack of balance in the side. For the first time this season, the manager started Mbappe, Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham together. It's a dangerous thing, trying to get all three into the same side. Say what you want about tactical adjustments and positional play, one fact is simple: the trio don't quite click together on either side of the ball.
Yes, there were some moments of individual magic, but when Los Blancos lost the ball, the results were calamitous. It was laughably easy to see how Atletico might attack. Mbappe doesn't like to run. Vinicius and Bellingham don't either. As soon as Los Rojiblancos counter, they are playing against eight, taking on a remarkably disorganised unit immediately. And although set-pieces proved to be their ultimate undoing, all of the moves started from direct vertical counters.
It was a familiar story, the way Madrid have been attacked by opponents for 12 months now. Alonso simply fell into the same trap as his predecessor Carlo Ancelotti in the Italian's final year at the Santiago Bernabeu.
GettyLeaning on Mbappe
And that won't be easy to counter. In all likelihood, one of Bellingham or Vinicius will need to be benched – especially in the big games. Madrid's remedy to that – or, at least, their method for picking up results – is to lean on their stars. And in Mbappe, they have arguably the best forward in the world.
The Frenchman has been in electric form to start the campaign. Alonso seems to have won him over somehow, encouraging him to play in a more central role, and simply getting better consistent showings out of the team's talisman. Against the lesser sides, that helped paper over some cracks. Madrid haven't been excellent to start the season, but Mbappe's penchant for finding the net has ensured that some of the shortcomings – and there are a fair few – haven't proven fatal.
However, against a far more organised Atleti, he couldn't play hero-ball. Sure, he scored a wonderful goal – a clinical dart in behind and finish. But that alone could not save a Madrid team that actively struggled.
Mbappe's reluctance to defend was also illustrated. Ancelotti, the great vibes guy who was able to lay down the law in a dressing room full of egos, could never solve that conundrum in the big games. Thus far, Alonso hasn't, either. That goal was lovely for the highlight reel. Substantively, though, it meant little.
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Getty Images SportA midfield imbalance
The midfield could also do with some scrutiny here. Thus far, Alonso has stuck with a familiar formula: a trio of Federico Valverde, Aurelien Tchouameni, and one other (usually Arda Guler as a No.10). It has worked well enough. But against Atleti, who simply packed the middle of the pitch, it was underwhelming.
There are a number of reasons why. A lot of them surround a certain Englishman who was regarded as a Ballon d'Or candidate not 12 months ago.
Bellingham isn't lazy per se. But his work rate isn't excellent, either. He doesn't quite seem to know how to defend as a No.10. When the attackers don't press, Bellingham never knows when to run forward or drop deep. The result is a bit of lethargy, half-committed to defending. It leaves Madrid wide open.
Furthermore, for all of his undoubted talent, Bellingham clearly doesn't like it when things don't go his way. Too often, he throws his arms in the air in frustration, or doesn't track back at all. Atleti took advantage of that ill-discipline.
And then there is the form of Federico Valverde. Last year, he was immense, full of legs and providing some attacking quality, too. This year, he is still a willing runner, but looks a little slower. There were times, last season, where he could play two vs one. Not anymore.