Shaken by his heavy defeat in the Madrid derby (5-2) and frustrated in the Champions League despite a wide success in Almaty, Real Madrid no longer has the right to make mistakes. This Saturday, October 4, against Villarreal, Xabi Alonso plays Gros at Santiago Bernabéu. Aware of the challenges, the Basque technician decided to hit hard with a daring composition. And his choices in attack, in particular, will not fail to be talked about as they jostle the hierarchies established in Madrid.
An attack by Real remained: Rodrygo and Brahim holders
The Madrid coach insisted on the need for a collective and individual reaction after weeks in halftone:
“It's a key match before the truce. It takes a great level in all areas ”, he warned. Faced with a Villarreal in full confidence, well placed in liga and solid on the European scene, Real is no longer entitled to the slightest misstep. It is in this context that Xabi Alonso decided to upset his offensive line to infuse a new impetus. And the first leaks confirm a surprising tactical turn.
A major fact: Vinicius Junior should start on the bench, just like the young Franco Mastanuono. In their place, Xabi Alonso would bet on Rodrygo on the left and Brahim Diaz on the right to support Kylian Mbappé in an unprecedented offensive trio. A strong decision that reflects the coach's desire to relaunch certain players and to introduce more mobility and variety in the corridors. The objective: to find the lost efficiency in major meetings and offer more solutions in rapid transitions.
Behind them, a rebalancing team
The rest of the training is not lacking in interest either. Thibaut Courtois will hold his place in the cages, protected by a defensive quartet reinforced by the return of Eder Militao alongside Dean Huijsen. ASENCIO and Carreras will occupy the corridors. In the middle, Federico Valverde, Aurélien Tchouameni and Arda Güler will form an additional trio, despite rumors of tensions around the repositioning of the Uruguayan environment. Alonso counts on them to control the tempo and offer constant support to his attackers.
This poster against Villarreal is much more than a simple championship match: it must mark the starting point of a new cycle after a difficult September. By shaking up his offensive choices, Xabi Alonso sends a clear message to his locker room: no one is untouchable. It remains to be seen if this daring bet will bear fruit in the face of a formidable opponent. In Bernabéu, only a convincing victory will be able to appease doubts and relaunch the Madrid machine in the title race.
The eleven of Real Madrid against Villarreal:
Courtois – Asencio, Militao, Huijsen, Carreras – Tchouameni, Güler, Valverde – Brahim, Rodrygo, Mbappé.
