Tactical Analysis of Xabi Alonso’s First El Clásico as Real Madrid Manager
On October 26, 2025, Xabi Alonso marked his debut as Real Madrid’s manager in one of football’s most iconic fixtures: El Clásico against Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabéu. Appointed in May 2025 following Carlo Ancelotti’s departure, Alonso brought a fresh tactical philosophy honed from his successful tenure at Bayer Leverkusen. This match, the first of the 2025-26 La Liga season between the two giants, ended in a 2-1 victory for Real Madrid, snapping a four-game losing streak against Barcelona from the previous campaign (where Barça had outscored them 16-7 aggregate).
The win extended Madrid’s lead at the top of La Liga to five points. It served as a statement of intent under Alonso’s leadership, emphasising intensity, midfield control, and opportunistic attacking. This comprehensive tactical analysis breaks down the formations, key moments, player performances, and strategic decisions that defined the game. Drawing from match reports and post-game insights, it highlights how Alonso’s approach outmanoeuvred Barcelona’s interim setup under assistant coach Marcus Sorg (filling in for the absent Hansi Flick due to illness).
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Lineups and Formations: A Midfield Battle Set in Motion
Real Madrid lined up in a flexible 4-3-3 that morphed into a compact 4-4-2 out of possession, prioritising midfield density to disrupt Barcelona’s buildup play. Alonso opted for an extra midfielder using Aurelien Tchouaméni, Eduardo Camavinga, Arda Güler, and Jude Bellingham are sacrificed for a wide attacker allowing the team create a robust central block. This allowed Madrid to press high aggressively, targeting Barça’s goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny and centre-backs Pau Cubarsí and Alejandro García.
The starting XI was:
GK: Thibaut Courtois
DEF: Lucas Vázquez, Éder Militão, Antonio Rüdiger, Ferland Mendy
MID: Aurélien Tchouaméni, Eduardo Camavinga, Arda Güler, Jude Bellingham
FWD: Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior
Barcelona, hampered by injuries and suspensions (missing Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, Gavi, and Dani Olmo), deployed a 4-2-3-1 with a high defensive line but lacked their usual attacking fluidity. Assistant coach Sorg relied on youth and makeshift roles, with Lamine Yamal shifting centrally late in the game.
Their lineup:
GK: Wojciech Szczęsny
DEF: Jules Koundé, Pau Cubarsí, Alejandro García, Alejandro Balde
MID: Marc Casadó, Pedri
FWD: Marcus Rashford, Fermín López, Ferran Torres, Lamine Yamal
Alonso’s tactical tweak—adding midfield muscle—proved decisive early, as Madrid dominated possession (52%) and outshot Barça 23-12, the highest shot tally by a debuting Madrid manager in El Clásico since at least 2003/04.This setup limited Barcelona to half-chances while enabling quick transitions for Madrid’s lethal front line.
First Half: High Intensity and Pivotal Goals
The opening exchanges set the tone for Alonso’s aggressive philosophy. Madrid pressed relentlessly, forcing turnovers in Barça’s half. In the 12th minute, Mbappé thought he had scored with a long-range strike, but VAR ruled it offside—a recurring theme, with three Madrid goals disallowed throughout the match.
The breakthrough came in the 22nd minute. Bellingham threaded a precise through ball to Mbappé, who outpaced Balde and slotted home confidently for 1-0—his 16th goal of the season and 11th in La Liga. This goal exemplified Alonso’s emphasis on midfield connectivity: Bellingham’s “knack for being in the right place” (as noted by analysts) combined with Mbappé’s clinical finishing.
Barcelona equalised in the 38th minute through Fermín López, who timed his run perfectly to meet Rashford’s pass and finish past Thibaut Courtois (1-1). It was a rare lapse in Madrid’s defence, but Alonso’s side responded swiftly. In the 43rd minute, Éder Militão won an aerial duel against Balde, setting up an unmarked Bellingham for a tap-in (2-1).
This quick recovery highlighted Madrid’s resilience and tactical shift from passive play to high-tempo transitions within the first 25 minutes, which analysts called the “game changer.” At halftime, Madrid’s 12 shots (vs. Barça’s 5) underscored their dominance, with Alonso praising the team’s “conviction” in post-match comments.
Second Half: Missed Opportunities and Defensive Resilience
The second period saw Madrid maintain control but waste chances. Mbappé earned a penalty after a foul by García, but Szczęsny saved it brilliantly—denying Mbappé a brace. Barcelona, desperate for an equaliser, pushed forward but created little, with Yamal firing over the bar and Courtois making key saves from López’s efforts. Substitutions became a flashpoint.
In the 72nd minute, Alonso subbed off Vinícius Júnior (who had won the early penalty and assisted in buildup play), sparking the Brazilian’s furious reaction—he questioned the decision, stormed to the dressing room, and later clashed with Yamal in a post-match melee that required police intervention. Alonso downplayed it publicly, focusing on Vinícius’s “big part” in the win and promising private discussions. Mbappé was subbed in the 91st minute as Madrid shut up shop.
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Tensions boiled over in stoppage time: Pedri received a second yellow for a foul, reducing Barça to 10 men, while backup GK Andriy Lunin was sent off for leaving the technical area during the ensuing brawl. Despite the chaos, Madrid held firm, limiting Barça to a few clear opportunities.
Tactical Keys: Alonso’s Masterclass in Disruption
Alonso’s victory hinged on several tactical pillars:
High Press and Midfield Overload: The 4-4-2 out-of-possession shape disrupted Barça’s high line, forcing errors from Cubarsí and García (questioned as a partnership without Iñigo Martínez). Camavinga shone with his “flexibility and dynamism,” dominating key situations alongside Bellingham and Güler.
Exploiting Transitions: Madrid’s quick counters capitalised on Barça’s passive defending (e.g., Koundé against Vinícius, Balde beaten repeatedly). This led to 23 shots, a testament to Alonso’s attacking intent.
Defensive Solidity: Despite conceding, Madrid allowed only 17 shots in Alonso’s first three La Liga games overall—the lowest by any manager.They neutralised Yamal without special measures, as Alonso noted post-match.
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Motivation and Cohesion: Alonso stressed the win was “not just three points,” crediting the team’s motivation and fan connection as “essential” for growth. This mental edge helped overcome Barça’s injury-hit squad, which delayed subs until the final 15 minutes. Barcelona’s vulnerabilities, absentees, a leaky defence, and inability to rally were exposed, with Sorg admitting criticism motivated Yamal but yielded no breakthrough.
Key Performances: Stars and Strugglers
Standouts for Madrid:
Mbappé (8/10) was clinical despite limited touches; Bellingham (9/10) assisted and scored, showing improved form post-international break.
Camavinga (8/10) provided energy in midfield.
For Barcelona: Szczęsny (8/10) made heroic saves; López (7/10) scored but faded.
Yamal (6/10) was shut out, while the backline (Balde 5/10, Koundé 5/10) struggled.
Vinícius’s outburst overshadowed his contributions, hinting at underlying tensions since Alonso’s arrival, with reports of discomfort over positional changes.
Post-Match Incidents and Broader Implications
The game ended in controversy, with the melee involving Vinícius and Yamal underscoring the fixture’s intensity. Alonso dismissed overanalysis, calling such moments “healthy” in Clásicos. This win made Alonso the first Madrid manager to triumph in his debut El Clásico since Zinedine Zidane in 2016, echoing Zidane’s 2-1 scoreline.
In conclusion, Alonso’s tactical acumen—blending Leverkusen-style pressing with Madrid’s star power delivered a deserved victory that could define his tenure. With Madrid now five points clear, this result boosts morale amid challenges like Vinícius’s unrest. For Barcelona, it exposes depth issues, setting up an intriguing rematch later in the season.