Three questions and three answers from Alavés 1-2 Real Madrid

Actual Madrid ended a run of back-to-back defeats as they secured a 2-1 win at Mendizorroza to maintain strain on Barcelona on the high of La Liga with a four-point hole. Los Blancos beat Alavés courtesy of objectives from Kylian Mbappé and Rodrygo Goes both aspect of an equaliser from Carlos Vicente on the counter.

1. Who could be match to play in defence?

It’s been a while since Actual Madrid have needed to deal with such an in depth damage record, however this disaster scenario was set to pressure Xabi Alonso’s hand. David Alaba, Dani Carvajal, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ferland Mendy and Éder Militão have been all out injured, in addition to makeshift possibility Eduardo Camavinga, whereas Carvajal, Álvaro Carreras and Fran García have been suspended. That compelled Alonso to name up Castilla possibility Víctor Valdepeñas as an emergency left-back, although a lot additionally hinged on the health of Antonio Rüdiger and Dean Huijsen who have been each aiming to return from damage. All three would get minutes, with Valdepeñas and Rüdiger beginning, with Valdepeñas turning into the primary participant since Dani Carvajal and Isco in 2013 to report greater than 5 tackles and greater than 12 duels on his Actual Madrid debut.

2. Would the advance from Wednesday evening proceed?

When the ultimate whistle blew on the Bernabéu to offer Manchester Metropolis a 2-1 victory, there have been blended emotions as Actual Madrid crashed to a second defeat in 4 days, however with the sensation that the staff had produced certainly one of their finest performances of not less than the final month. The staff performed with a transparent plan, depth, and combat that hadn’t been witnessed in opposition to the likes of Celta Vigo or Girona. The doubt was whether or not that was enjoying as much as the event, a European elite displaying up in your personal yard, or a significant tactical enchancment. An away journey to Vitoria-Gasteiz to tackle Alavés in powerful circumstances was about as huge a check as Actual Madrid may face, they usually returned to a degree nearer to that which struggled in opposition to the likes of Elche or Rayo Vallecano in current weeks, counting on some magic from Kylian Mbappé, struggling to interrupt down a low block after which defending poorly. There’s nonetheless work to be finished.

3. Would the mix of Rodrygo, Mbappé, Bellingham and Vinícius work?

It was fairly frequent to see this quartet in motion collectively, significantly early on within the 2024/25 marketing campaign, however this was the primary time that the 4 gamers would begin the identical sport collectively underneath Xabi Alonso. Rodrygo was being rewarded for an outstanding efficiency in opposition to Manchester Metropolis in midweek, and he confirmed why by scoring his second aim in as many video games after going 9 months with out scoring. What was most intriguing concerning the arrange was that we noticed far more of Kylian Mbappé drifting to the left than regular, reasonably than in his central position, seemingly interchanging with Vinícius Júnior. There have been additionally minutes for Franco Mastantuono, his first look since November 1st, Brahim Díaz, who hasn’t began a sport since November ninth, and Gonzalo García, as the complete offensive repertoire have been on provide.

1. What does this imply for Xabi Alonso?

Media studies claimed that something apart from a win may see Xabi Alonso lose his job, and whereas Los Blancos did get the three factors, it was something however a convincing win to allay any fears. It’s true that Alonso was dealing with a serious damage disaster, significantly in defence, and had the bravery to name up choices from Castilla reasonably than put sq. pegs in spherical holes, however at this level, the continuous delay to dismiss him appears to be delaying the inevitable. Messages from the membership proceed to level to discontent, if not with outcomes then with health ranges and locker room administration, and demand that Alonso should additionally safe wins in opposition to Talavera de la Reina within the Copa del Rey and in opposition to Sevilla on the Bernabéu subsequent Saturday with a purpose to hold his job into 2026. Such calls for appear farcical, with Alonso limping on with out the complete help of the membership behind him.

2. Ought to Actual Madrid have had a penalty?

It made no affect on the tip consequence, however Actual Madrid appeared to have a transparent penalty denied on 88 minutes as Nahuel Tenaglia kicked Vinícius Júnior because the Brazilian dribbled previous him. “It’s a penalty, however he hasn’t given it as a result of it’s me,” Vinícius acknowledged angrily. But probably the most affordable touch upon the incident got here from Alavés coach Eduardo Coudet, who stated, “it was both a penalty or a second yellow card for diving”. Referee Víctor García Verdura opted to not award both, with VAR official Pablo González Fuertes then refusing to become involved from behind the display. The contact was clear and evident, and it was stunning that neither referee thought-about it a penalty offence.

3. Why did Xabi Alonos name out Víctor Valdepeñas?

In his post-match press convention, Xabi Alonso made the stunning option to criticise debutant Víctor Valdepeñas, claiming that, “we conceded on the one play the place Valdepeñas made a mistake, they usually took benefit of it”. It appeared a weird choice for the coach to so blatantly level the finger on the third youngest debutant this century, after solely Raphael Varane and Achraf Hakimi. He would go on to say, “I say that to spotlight how nice he has been and the way essential he was to us,” however the choice to label Valdepeñas for the aim conceded seems harsh, on condition that it was Antonio Rüdiger who performed Carlos Vicente as he did not step up the road to play him offside. It solely fueled issues that Alonso is enjoying to go well with the larger egos within the locker room on the expense of the others, with Valdepeñas enjoying the value this time.