Real Madrid Raises Serious Concerns Ahead of Upcoming Matches!

Real Madrid is facing challenges. Despite securing a narrow first place in La Liga, Xabi Alonso’s team is struggling with performance issues. After a defeat against Liverpool in the Champions League and a draw with Rayo Vallecano before the international break, they aimed to bounce back at Elche. However, they delivered another disappointing and disorganized display, unable to uphold their status against a supposedly weaker team. The late equalizer only slightly masked this underperformance (2-2).

The Spanish coach tried to surprise with a complete system overhaul. Alonso opted for a 3-4-3 formation to address multiple defensive absences, with a trio of Asencio-Huijsen-Carreras supporting a very offensive four-man line. This bold choice proved risky. Real struggled from the start, unable to play out from the back or control the opposition’s transitions. Despite scoring, Dean Huijsen was defensively shaky, and Trent Alexander-Arnold was frequently outpaced on his flank. Both players embodied the fragility of the Madrid defense, which was often on the brink of collapse throughout the match.

Rodrygo lost, Mbappé ineffective, Vinícius erratic: the attack falters

The attacking performance was equally concerning. Rodrygo continues to struggle with a worrisome lack of effectiveness, remaining scoreless on Sunday, marking his 29th consecutive match without a goal in La Liga. Kylian Mbappé had several chances but lacked sharpness, going three matches without scoring for the first time since joining the club. Vinícius Júnior’s introduction did little to help; instead, his erratic and individualistic play slowed down the game, representing the frustration of the Merengues’ attack. Despite dominating possession, Real allowed Elche to take the lead, only to briefly equalize before trailing again. Bellingham’s late equalizer provided only temporary relief in what was an overall disappointing night. Even substitutes, brought on to invigorate the team, failed to make a significant impact.

While Gonzalo Garcia missed a crucial chance in stoppage time, the overall assessment remained the same: this Madrid team lacked creativity and control, leaving a sense of helplessness. Beyond the result (2-2), concerns linger about the structural fragility, poor offensive cohesion, and Alonso’s questionable decisions. Real Madrid remains at the top but is still stagnant. After the match, Alonso reflected on the poor performance, stating he understood his team better: “It’s football. After a good run, we’ve faced several setbacks. We know what we want: to keep pushing forward. We’re not satisfied; we always want to win. But there are many matches left, so we need to focus on the next one, analyzing our performance today. Relationships are improving; we have more time and exchanges, and we know each other better. We’re all in this together, celebrating victories and suffering in defeat. We need to turn things around, starting in Athens.” It’s now up to him to find solutions and avoid losing his squad’s support, as his choices remain divisive. The next opportunity for answers comes on Wednesday against Olympiakos (21:00 IST).