Real Madrid defeated Mendizorosa 2-1, ending two consecutive losses and continuing to put pressure on Barcelona at the top of La Liga with a 4-point gap. Real Madrid beat Alaves thanks to Kylian Mbappe’s goal and Rodrygo’s equalizer off Carlos Vicente’s counterattack.
three answers
1. Who is suitable to play as a defender?
It’s been a while since Real Madrid have dealt with such an extensive injury list, but this crisis situation is bound to force Xavi Alonso’s hand. David Alaba, Danny Carvajal, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ferland Mendy and Eder Militao are all out injured, as is temporary substitute Eduardo Camavinga, while Carvajal, Alvaro Carreras and Fran Garcia are suspended. This has forced Alonso to call up Castilla replacement Victor Valdepeñas as emergency left-back, although much will also depend on the fitness of Antonio Rudiger and Dean Huizen, who are both looking to return from injury. All three got playing time, with Valdepeñas and Rudiger starting. Valdepeñas became the first player since Dani Carvajal and Isco in 2013 to make more than 5 tackles and 12 duels in his Real Madrid debut.
advertise
2. Will Wednesday night’s improvement continue?
When the final whistle blew at the Santiago Bernabéu in a 2-1 win over Manchester City and Real Madrid’s second defeat in four days, there were mixed emotions but also a feeling that the team had produced one of its best performances since at least the last month. This team has a clear game plan, intensity and fighting spirit that it doesn’t have against teams like Celta Vigo or Girona. One wonders whether this is a matter of pandering to the situation, the emergence of Europe’s elite in your own backyard, or a meaningful tactical improvement. A trip away to Vitoria-Gasteiz to face Alaves in tough conditions will be a huge test for Real Madrid, who have been playing at a level close to what they have been in recent weeks against the likes of Elche or Rayo Vallecano, relying on some magic from Kylian Mbappe to struggle to break down low and then defending poorly. There is still work to be done.
3. Will the combination of Rodrigo, Mbappe, Bellingham and Vinicius work?
It’s common to see the quartet playing together, especially early in the 2024/25 season, but this is the first time all four players have started together under Xavi Alonso. Rodrygo was rewarded for his fine performance against Manchester City in midweek and he showed why by scoring his second goal in as many games after nine months without scoring. The most interesting thing about this set-up is that we see Kylian Mbappe drifting to the left more than usual rather than playing a central role, seemingly interchangeable with Vinicius Junior. Franco Mastantuono made his first appearance since November 1, Brahim Díaz had not started since November 9, and Gonzalo García also saw minutes as the attacking lineup was full.
advertise
three questions
1. What does this mean for Xavi Alonso?
Media reports suggested that anything short of victory could cost Xabi Alonso his job, and while Real Madrid did pick up three points, it wasn’t a convincing win at all to allay any fears. It’s true that Alonso is dealing with a major injury crisis, particularly defensively, and has the guts to call in options from Castilla rather than put a square peg in a round hole, but at this point, the constant delay in sacking him seems to be delaying the inevitable. Sources from the club continue to express dissatisfaction, if not with results, then with fitness levels and dressing room management, insisting that Alonso must also win in the Copa del Rey against Talavera de la Reina and next Saturday against Sevilla at the Bernabeu in order to keep his job until 2026. Such demands seemed comical, with Alonso limping forward without the club’s full support.
2. Should Real Madrid award a penalty kick?
It had no impact on the final result, but Real’s 88th-minute penalty appeared to have been clearly blocked when Nahuel Tenaglia knocked down the Brazilian as he dribbled past Vinicius Junior. “It was a penalty but he didn’t take it because it was me,” Vinicius said angrily. However, the most legitimate comment on the incident came from Alaves coach Eduardo Cudet, who said “it was either a penalty or a second yellow card for diving”. Referee Víctor García Verdura chose not to call the penalty and VAR official Pablo González Fuertes refused to intervene from behind the screen. The contact was clearly visible and surprisingly neither referee deemed it a penalty foul.
advertise
3. Why did Javi Alonos call out Victor Valdepeñas?
In his post-match press conference, Xabi Alonso made the surprising choice to criticize debutant Victor Valdepeñas, claiming “we conceded a goal in the only game Valdepeñas committed and they took advantage of it”. It seems an odd decision for a coach to so blatantly point the finger at the third-youngest starting player this century, behind Raphael Varane and Achraf Hakimi. He went on to say, “I say this to underline how great he is and how important he is to us”, but the decision to mark Valdepeñas as conceding seemed harsh as it was Antonio Rudiger against Carlos Vicente as his failure to step up to the line put him offside. This only fueled concerns that Alonso’s game was pandering to larger egos in the dressing room at the expense of others, and this time it was Valdepeñas who paid the price.
