Real Madrid s perfect start to the new season - Analyzing 7 key points in the new era of Xavi Alonso

Although the summer club World Cup is not ideal for Real Madrid, it has become an excellent opportunity for Xavi Alonso to evaluate the team from the inside.

The 2025/26 season started very smoothly, at least from the result: the La Liga won all four games. A clear picture is emerging about how the new coach advances reconstruction. The following are the main highlights of the Alonso era.

1. Alonso has basically determined the core framework of the midfield and backcourt - only one exception is left

Although many people expect Alonso to continue his 3-4-2-1 formation at Leverkusen, and even he himself seems to have planned a major change, he gave up on this idea. After leading the analysis team, he concluded that the formation was not suitable for Real Madrid's lineup composition.

This is why all La Liga matches have used four-guard formations. But there is a premise: not all central defenders are completely healthy, and the formation structure is more hybrid than classic (more on that later).

Nevertheless, Alonso has fixed 5 of the six key positions in the defense line and the back midfield position.

Goalkeeper – Courtois. No discussion is needed. Lu Ning has no chance to play so far.

Leftback – Alvaro Carreras.

This is the player Alonso personally asked to introduce, and the type he wanted was very different from Fran Garcia or Mendy - demanding more initiative and technical skills.

Workload data confirms this: Carreras' current output (blue) shows a huge difference compared to Mendy last season (red), especially in pushing through passes, crosses and expected assists. On the defensive end, Alvaro has already performed well - in injury time, he wonderfully defended Real Madrid's victory.

Central back - Heisen and Militon

Heisen are another requirement for Alonso: a central defender with top-level passing propulsion. Heysen still has shortcomings in defense, but he performed well when holding the ball - his passing power and accuracy through the defense are often eye-catching, and his total pass volume also leads the league with a huge advantage.

(Figure description: X-axis - propulsion pass every 90 minutes; Y-axis - propulsion pass accuracy)

Meanwhile, Militon, who recovered from the ACL injury, won another starting position. The vulnerable Rudiger and Alaba have now been demoted to substitutes, with rumors that both will leave next summer, while Real Madrid is targeting Liverpool's Connaet. After the

Club World Cup, Raul Asensio also fell out of favor - only played 23 minutes this season.

Midfielder - Chuaméni

Under Alonso, this French player is in good shape and has become the core figure in the midfield and has finally realized his full potential.

He also provides tactical flexibility: when facing certain opponents, Alonso adds a third central defender, allowing Chu Ameni to retreat further and play a role similar to "La Volpiana" (we have discussed this tactic [tactical phenomenon] in another article. What is La Volpiana? Why is Guardiola said to carry it forward).

Although he does this less now than in the Club World Cup.

2. Arnold started the game without a good start - the England right-back was the only place where there was a real rotation. New players Arnold and Carvajal almost split their playing time.

The Athletic reported that Carvajal is Alonso's preferred choice. The coach praised him, while the Spanish media pointed out that Alonso has not found a way to use Arnold.

The problem is structural: Arnold is not a traditional defensive full-back, but an introvert full-back who will cut into half the space (as he did when he was working with Salah at Liverpool). However, in Real Madrid, that area has been occupied - Matantono, Brahim, Guillail, or sometimes there are no wingers at all, but instead adopt the middle lane pile-up tactic. In addition, 65% of Real Madrid's current offense is launched through Vinicius and Mbappe on the left.

Therefore, Arnold's embarrassing situation: a) cannot play under natural conditions; b) rarely participate in offense; c) struggles in transition defense when returning from high positions or wings.

This situation led to Tuchel again not selecting him on the England roster, but choosing Rees James. Tuchel even advised Arnold to “take defensive discipline more seriously and show more desire.”

3. Guillail became the core of Alonso - fully understanding with Mbappe

In the midfield, a constant still exists: Valverde, who is indispensable to any coach. He played the whole game in the first three games and only got a short break in the fourth game, although he had just experienced high-intensity matches for Uruguay.

The third midfielder who partnered with Chuameni and Valverde was Gulaire. As predicted, Alonso made the young Turk at the heart of the plan—and without regrets.

Guillail himself also clarified his role: "Yamale and I play in different positions. Our style is different. This comparison is incorrect."

Indeed, Guillail is not a winger, but a deep organizer - essentially "Tony Cross 2.0". His activity hot map just illustrates this:

(Picture description: Guillair activity hot area map)

His touch and passes per 90 minutes are among the top in La Liga - in fact, it is more appropriate to compare him with Pedri than with Yamal.

(Figure description: X-axis - touch every 90 minutes; Y-axis - passing every 90 minutes)

In terms of creativity, he even surpassed Barcelona's midfield in some data - such as a key pass lead. His partner with Mbappe is one of the most efficient combinations in Europe. Marca described it as follows: "Every pass, every run, every attack reflects a growing chemistry. They seem to understand each other without words and predict the trends. This synergy shines in every coordination and can lift the entire team to another level."

fans have begun to compare it with the combination of Ronaldo Ozil. Meanwhile, Mbappe himself is in a hot state, scoring a key goal just like in spring. As long as the team can make up for the regrets of last season, it is likely to belong to his year.

4. Rodrigo is obviously not in Alonso's plan - Wasting opportunities against Oviedo

Whatever Alonso said in a press conference, the reality is cruel: Rodrigo is losing his position unless there is an injury. He is now behind 18-year-old Mastantono, Brahim Dias and others in the ranking.

Rodrigo is rumored to ask to kick the left he likes—but that is Vinicius’ territory. When Winnie was struggling in form at the beginning of the season, fans called for Rodrigo to give him a chance.

Alonso gave him a chance against the bottom team Oviedo - the result was backfired. Rodrigo made almost no contribution on the left, while Vinicius, who came on as a substitute, contributed one goal and one assist. Rodrigo's reaction on the bench says it all.

Since then, Rodrigo has played only 19 minutes in two games. And with Bellingham's return, his chances will be reduced further.

5. Alonso needs to solve Bellingham's integration problem - he has returned

Bellingham has been selected for the Champions League roster against Marseille. Although he has not made a debut, he has returned several weeks early after shoulder surgery. Spanish media insisted that Alonso regarded him as indispensable - but someone had to make sacrifices.

So far this season, Real Madrid's formation is roughly as follows:

(Formation diagram: assuming it is 4-3-3, forward Vinicius rotates on the right, midfielder Chu Améni Valverde Guerre)

With Belling's return, the right winger's position is likely to be sacrificed - Guerrere will nominally move there, but will actually participate in the organization more deeply. This may recreate Ancelotti's diamond midfielder (4-4-2 Diamond) in the 2023/24 season, accompanied by Vinicius Mbappe's forward duo.

6. How are Camavenga, Enderick and Gonzalo Garcia?

Kamavenga and Enderick were only absent due to injuries. Alonso even stopped Ceballos from transferring to Marseille, leaving him as a deep substitute. Enderick's health problems also disrupted the original plan to rent to Real Sociedad.

As for Gonzalo Garcia, the hero of the club's World Cup, reality is in front of you. Competing with Mbappe is impossible, so the 21-year-old striker is limited to making a substitute at the end of the game.

7. Alonso is stepping up training for the stars to impose pressure. The current frontcourt pressure has not reached Barcelona's level, but the progress is obvious - with one exception. Vinicius's oppression is still unstable, only intermittent.

However, Mbappe showed full commitment, which the Spanish media emphasized with video clips reminiscent of Dembele's attitude to work in the Champions League final.

data confirm this: Real Madrid is the third best team in La Liga to get the ball back at high positions in the offensive third zone - leading Barcelona.