Real Madrid experienced its first big disillusionment of the season. Undefeated since August, the Merengue underwent AtlĆ©tico law at the Riyadh Metropolitano, swept 5-2 during an incandescent derby. The goals of Robin Le Normand (14th), Alexander SĆørloth (45th+3), JuliĆ”n Ćlvarez (51st SP, 63rd) and Antoine Griezmann (90th+3) offered a gala evening to the Colchoneros, while Kylian MbappĆ© (25th) and Arda GĆ¼ler (36th) had briefly given the illusion of Real capable of competing. A setback which ended the perfect series of Madrid and which recalled that even with an XXL workforce, some meetings remain trampher.
This scenario contrasts with a recent era, that when Zinedine Zidane directed Real Madrid. The French coach, over his two passages on the bench between 2016 and 2021, succeeded in a major feat: staying undefeated outside the two historic rivals, BarƧa and AtlƩtico. Neither at Camp Nou, nor in Metropolitano, Zidane has experienced defeat. A extremely rare performance for a merengue coach, as clasicos and Madrid derbies are traditionally synonymous with suffering and traps.
An inspiration for Xabi Alonso?
This assessment illustrates to the ability of “Zizou” to prepare his team for major meetings. His players, transcended in the most hostile atmospheres, had made these shocks moments of truth when Real never folded.
While Xabi Alonso must now relaunch a wardrobe marked by his first slap of the season, the recall of this invincibility underlines how fundamental clasicos and derbies remains for a Madrid coach. Zidane had transformed these hot events into an invincibility field.
