Real Madrid is too fragile in big matches.

06/11/2025 16:20:00 FieldFrenzy

All the elements that led to victory over Barcelona in the El Clasico were not replicated by Real Madrid against Liverpool, resulting in a severe defeat for the Galacticos in the fourth group stage match of the Champions League.

If the El Clasico was a tactical masterpiece by coach Xabi Alonso, based on game control combined with strong mentality, fitness, and individual brilliance, then the loss on English soil turned into a public criticism of the Basque strategist.

The plan failed.

Real not only performed poorly at Anfield but also appeared weak. There is no fixed formula in football, and "bullying" a form-declined Barcelona convinced Xabi to repeat the winning tactics in England.

The 43-year-old coach seemed well-prepared for crucial matches with four midfielders to minimize risks, blending physical strength from Tchouameni and Camavinga with the finesse of Guler and the explosiveness of Bellingham.

However, the Galacticos’ plan collapsed from the start due to a lack of aggression and excessive softness against an opponent playing with high intensity, speed, and relentless pressure in the final third. All stars quickly disappeared; they failed to find each other and did not connect into a solid system.

Real tried to control possession intending to "soften" Liverpool’s strength and determination but failed to contest, lacked attacking weight, and were disjointed in the opponent’s half. This half-hearted effort only reinforced the home team’s power. The red shirts flooded everywhere, overwhelming Real with continuous attacks.

Real suffered another poor game under Xabi Alonso.

The Galacticos could have lost by a much larger margin. They looked like timid boys making their Champions League debut, lacking determination and pace, as if they believed from the start they could not win. Only one of them had believed otherwise for years: Thibaut Courtois. The Belgian goalkeeper’s 8 saves in the match were a costly example of Real’s ineptitude and harmlessness.

Alonso’s approach was ineffective. Liverpool struggled but had weaknesses on the flanks that Alonso’s team failed to exploit. They created no pressure and never made the opponent anxious for a second. Moreover, Alonso lacked reaction and had no immediate plan to fix the worsening situation over time.

Alonso’s defeat.

The loss was collective, but the one responsible was Alonso. The 43-year-old coach lacked the determination, football intelligence, charisma, and talent the team needs now. Losing by one goal felt almost ironic. The disasters at Metropolitano and Anfield will weigh heavily on the Basque strategist regarding planning for big matches, mental preparation, and using the right players.

The most irrational aspect of Alonso’s approach was emphasizing Vinicius’s role, who threatened Bradley a few times but then turned into a usual disaster. Meanwhile, Mbappe became surprisingly passive as if still haunted by last season’s defeat.

Real’s play became impossible because their biggest star was not "active." He had no moment showing the stature of a top player. Something was wrong with Mbappe’s game, the player Alonso and teammates expected to lead them to victory.

This leads to another major issue, the core of the catastrophe: Real currently lacks a leader. There is no great captain guiding the team through tough matches like this. Alonso did not perform better than Ancelotti at Anfield, and this defeat betrayed all the trust built before. If the goalkeeper was the best player on the team, that alone speaks volumes about Real’s disaster.

Nhat Minh

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