Real Madrid were held to a 0-0 draw with Rayo Vallecano in a Madrid derby at Vallecas on Sunday afternoon. With the winter chill setting in across the Spanish capital, Real Madrid’s attack was frozen as they recorded just 0.82 xG up against Rayo’s 1.19 xG in a game of few chances.
Three answers
1. How would Real Madrid adjust without Aurélien Tchouameni?
Few players have been almost ever-present for Xabi Alonso since his arrival, but one who has been is Aurélien Tchouameni. When the Frenchman was ruled out for three
weeks, conveniently coinciding with the international break fortunately for Los Blancos, the immediate concern was how he would be replaced in the line-up. Eduardo Camavinga was the clearest option, but a different style of player to Tchouameni. The option to return Fede Valverde to midfield also seemed likely, but Alonso opted not to go down that road, instead keeping Trent Alexander-Arnold on the bench and maintaining the Uruguayan at right-back. The replacement was not smooth, Real Madrid lacked that crucial transition from defence to attack and Tchouameni’s distribution and ability to spark movements. This very much looked like a side still finding their feet without a key figure available in the team.
2. Would Vallecas continue to be a difficult place for Real Madrid to go to?
Vallecas has not been kind to Real Madrid in recent years. The last three visits have ended in draws, with Rayo winning the previous battle, and you’d have to go back to February 2022 for the last Real Madrid win at the stadium in southern Madrid, when Karim Benzema scored a late winner in a 1-0 victory. That was the only time Real Madrid have picked up three points from their last six visits to Vallecas, where the proximity of the fans to the pitch and the dated facilities make it an usual away day for Real Madrid’s squad used to the elite luxury of the Bernabéu. Once again here, Real Madrid seemed a little uncomfortable with not only the setting but also the intense pressure of a Rayo side who were full of energy after making eight changes from their side who started against Lech Poznan in the Conference League on Thursday.
3. Could Real Madrid get their momentum back?
Real Madrid have now dropped points in consecutive games for the first time since April, when a three-game run saw Real Madrid need extra-time to take a draw and progress against Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey, then losing to Valencia in La Liga at the Bernabéu and to Arsenal in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals in London. That spell would be the nail in Carlo Ancelotti’s coffin, and Xabi Alonso must get a result against Elche to avoid matching that streak this month. The international break will allow a reset, but it will mean that the morale will continue to be at a low point. Despite still sitting top of La Liga and making good progress in the Champions League, Real Madrid do feel to be far from their best. The drama of Vinícius Júnior’s substitution distracted from an impressive Clásico win, and defeats in big fixtures against the likes of Atlético Madrid and Liverpool means that there are questions for Los Blancos to answer.
Three questions
1. Can Real Madrid score when Kylian Mbappé doesn’t?
For the first time since April, Kylian Mbappé has gone two games in a row without scoring. Of the 25 games he’s played for Real Madrid since then, he’s scored in 20. Of the remaining five, his team have failed to score in three. Real Madrid have become dependent on Mbappé‘s goals this season, and it’s made their game plan predictable. Late on here, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Arda Güler were bombarding the box with set pieces and crosses, but there was no target to get on the end of them. Only six of 19 crosses were completed, but Jude Bellingham was the only player from the Real Madrid midfield or attack to win an aerial duel. Watching on from the bench, Gonzalo García and even Endrick may have been wondering what they need to do to be given an opportunity when Plan A doesn’t work out.
2. Are there new injury worries?
First of all, there was concern over Dean Huijsen. A terrible first-half outing saw him taken off at half-time, with some questioning whether the decision was tactical, given how he struggled up against makeshift centre-forward Isi Palazón, or due to a fitness issue which might explain his below par performance. Later on, Fede Valverde was seen clutching his right hamstring and signalling to be taken off. He’s played virtually every minute since being rested against Kairat Almaty in September, and an injury is far from surprising. The international break is well-timed to allow a 2 week spell for recovery before Real Madrid’s next fixture, away at Elche, but the injuries are beginning to pile up for Xabi Alonso.
3. Is Xabi Alonso struggling to influence games from the bench?
Four months into the Xabi Alonso era, Real Madrid are yet to see substantial changes and impact coming from the coach and his tweaks from the sidelines. While his decisions at the Club World Cup seemed to be more impactful, changing the system and personnel into different shapes, we have not seen the same since the start of the Liga season. Real Madrid have gone behind in four games, coming back to win two, though one featured two penalties in Real Madrid’s favour against Marseille and the other was at the Bernabéu against a Mallorca side who lost their first five consecutive away games. At Bayer Leverkusen, late comebacks became a trademark of Alonso’s. In Madrid, he is yet to identify a clear Plan B which can help to find a breakthrough when it doesn’t come easily.
