There’s a certain kind of quiet that falls over the Santiago Bernabéu when things aren't going right. It's important to highlight It’s not silence; it’s the sound of 80,000 people holding their breath, waiting for the magic that feels just out of reach. That’s the atmosphere surrounding Real Madrid right now. After a blistering start to the season, a recent slump has put manager Xabi Alonso squarely in the hot seat, with the unforgiving Madrid media sharpening their knives. Two recent wins might look impressive on paper, but anyone who watched them knows the cracks are still very much there.
Key Highlights
- ✓ Coach Xabi Alonso is under intense pressure following back-to-back home defeats and a string of poor results.
- ✓ Kylian Mbappé remains in sensational form, scoring 28 goals in 23 appearances this season.
- ✓ Madrid's recent 3-2 Copa del Rey win over Talavera was described as 'deeply unconvincing', suggesting underlying issues persist.
- ✓ Vinícius Júnior is currently struggling, having gone 13 games in all competitions without scoring a goal.
- ✓ The upcoming match against Sevilla is a critical test before the La Liga Christmas break, with Madrid trailing Barcelona by four points.
- ✓ Alonso has publicly stated the club is united, denying the need for a public show of support from the board.
Now, with a crucial match against Sevilla looming—the last before the holiday break—the pressure is astronomical. This isn't just about getting three points to keep pace with Barcelona. It's about sending a message. It’s about proving that the recent turbulence was just a blip, not the new normal. And as is so often the case in Madrid, all eyes are on one man to provide the spark, while the coach tries to hold it all together.
The Pressure Cooker at the Bernabéu
Let's not sugarcoat it: things got ugly for Madrid. After winning 10 of their first 11 league games, the wheels started to wobble. A run of three straight draws in November was bad enough, but it was the back-to-back home defeats to Celta Vigo and Manchester City that set off the alarm bells. At a club like Real Madrid, this isn't just a poor run of form; it's a full-blown crisis. The standards are so stratospherically high that anything less than total dominance is seen as a failure.
According to an ESPN report, the situation was so serious that club executives were actively debating Xabi Alonso's future. This is the reality of managing at the highest level. You're only ever a couple of bad results away from the exit door. The subsequent wins against Alavés and Talavera de la Reina have bought him some time, but the performance in the Copa del Rey—a narrow 3-2 victory—was described by analyst Alex Kirkland as "deeply unconvincing. " What this tells us is that Madrid is grinding out results, not rediscovering their flow.
From my perspective, this is the most dangerous phase for a manager. One key aspect to consider is When you win ugly, it papers over the cracks without actually fixing them. What's particularly interesting is The team isn't playing well, confidence is brittle, and they are relying on moments of individual brilliance rather than a cohesive team strategy. The upcoming Sevilla game will be a true litmus test of whether any real progress has been made behind the scenes.
Alonso's Calm Exterior: A Calculated Strategy.
In the face of all this, Alonso has been the picture of calm. When asked if he needed a public show of support from the club, his response was a firm no. "We're all united, from the president to the players, to do as well as possible," he stated in a recent press conference. "That's unquestionable. " This is a classic, and frankly, smart move. Projecting an image of unity and control is paramount, even if things are chaotic behind the scenes. Admitting you need a vote of confidence is like admitting you're sinking.
However, the contrast between his public statements and the reports of boardroom debates is stark. Here's what's really happening: Alonso is in a delicate dance. It's important to highlight He has to maintain the loyalty of his players and project strength to the media, all while knowing that his job security is far from guaranteed. The recent injury crisis, especially in defense, hasn't helped his cause, though the return of players like Eduardo Camavinga and David Alaba to training is a welcome boost. But the fundamental questions about his tactical approach remain unanswered.
The Mbappé Paradox: A Lifeline or a Liability.
Amidst all the uncertainty, one thing has been terrifyingly consistent: the sheer brilliance of Kylian Mbappé. The Frenchman has been playing on a different planet. With an astonishing 28 goals in 23 appearances for the club this season, he isn't just a part of the team; he is the team's attack. He leads the race for the Pichichi trophy with 17 La Liga goals, six more than his closest competitor. He scored twice in that shaky Copa del Rey win, essentially dragging his team over the finish line.
Here's the paradox, though. While Mbappé's form is a godsend, the team's over-reliance on him is becoming a massive problem. What happens when he's not there or has a rare off day. We saw a glimpse when he missed the Champions League defeat to Man City. The drop-off in quality is alarming. This reliance is thrown into even sharper relief when you look at his attacking partners.
Take Vinícius Júnior, for example. The Brazilian winger is in a tough spot, having failed to score in his last 13 games. While Alonso remains publicly supportive, saying "I don't doubt it's going to come," the lack of goals from other sources puts an unsustainable amount of pressure on Mbappé's shoulders. A team with Madrid's resources shouldn't be a one-man show. It masks deep tactical flaws and creates a fragility that top opponents can, and will, exploit.
Decoding the Sevilla Showdown
And so, we turn to the final hurdle of 2025: Sevilla FC at the Bernabéu. On the surface, this looks like a winnable game for Madrid. Sevilla's form has been erratic since their impressive 4-1 thrashing of Barcelona back in October. They've hovered dangerously close to the relegation zone and were just dumped out of the Copa del Rey. A recent 4-0 win over Oviedo eased some pressure, but they are far from a confident side.
But this is where the tactical battle gets interesting. Sevilla, under coach Matias Almeyda, has shown a tendency to deploy a defensive 5-4-1 formation, especially in tough away games. What this means is they'll likely come to Madrid with one goal in mind: frustrate. They will pack the defense, deny space, and try to hit on the counter-attack. This is the exact type of opponent that a low-confidence, rhythm-less Madrid team will hate playing against.
Furthermore, Sevilla's attack will be blunted as their Nigerian internationals, Chidera Ejuke and Akor Adams, have been called up for the Africa Cup of Nations. This further incentivizes them to play a tight, low-scoring game. All seven of their last away games in La Liga have seen under 3. 5 goals. This sets the stage for a tense, nervy affair, not the free-flowing attacking display Madrid fans are desperate to see. This brings us to
Madrid's Second-Half Struggles: A Telling Statistic
Here's a stat that really tells a story about this Real Madrid team. At home in La Liga this season, 57% of their goals have come in the first half. They are averaging just 0. 86 goals in the second half of home league matches. In their last two home games—both losses—they failed to score a single goal after halftime. This points to a potential lack of fitness, an inability to break down teams that adjust their tactics at the break, or a mental fragility when things don't go their way early on.
This is a massive red flag for Alonso. Great teams are defined by their ability to solve problems during a match and find a way to win in the final 30 minutes. Madrid's second-half impotence suggests a team that is running out of ideas as the game wears on. Against a defensive Sevilla side, if Madrid can't gain an early goal, the anxiety in the stadium will grow, and the players will feel it. This is where a coach truly earns his money—making the in-game adjustments to turn a frustrating draw into a hard-fought win.
The Bigger Picture: A System Beyond the Star Power
Zooming out, the real issue here isn't just a few bad results or a player's goal drought. The fundamental question is about the team's identity. We should also mention Is there a coherent tactical system in place, or is the strategy simply "gain the ball to Kylian and hope for the best". The analysis from the betting experts points to "no sign of a new tactical approach that will transform this Real Madrid team. " This is a damning indictment.
For Xabi Alonso, a midfielder renowned for his incredible intelligence and tactical brain, this has to be the most frustrating part. His challenge is to build a system that is greater than the sum of its parts, one where players like Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo, and Vinícius can thrive without everything resting on Mbappé. This brings us to The history of Real Madrid is filled with "Galácticos," but their most successful periods came when those stars were embedded in a world-class system. Right now, it feels like the stars are being asked to create the system themselves, and it's not working consistently.
Conclusion
The bottom line is this: the match against Sevilla is so much more than the last game of the year. It's a high-stakes referendum on Xabi Alonso's tenure and the team's direction. A convincing win would silence the critics, at least for the duration of the Christmas break, and provide a much-needed injection of confidence. Another lackluster performance, or worse, a loss, would send the club into the holidays engulfed in a full-blown crisis, with Alonso's position looking more precarious than ever.
We'll be watching to see if Madrid can find their rhythm and prove they are more than just a one-man army. Can the other stars step up. Can Alonso devise a plan to break down a stubborn defense. Or will the immense pressure at the Bernabéu prove too much once again. The answers will tell us a lot about whether Real Madrid will be fighting for the title in the new year or fighting just to find themselves.
About the Author
This article was written by the editorial team at ChopalCharcha, dedicated to bringing you the latest report, trends, and insights across entertainment, lifestyle, sports, and more.
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