New Real Madrid head coach Xabi Alonso showcased a daring tactical shift as his team triumphed over RB Salzburg with a 3-0 victory on Thursday, securing their top position in Group H and setting the stage for an exciting knockout clash against Juventus in the Club World Cup.
Having joined Real Madrid with an impressive reputation for tactical innovation from his time at Bayer Leverkusen, Alonso opted for a five-man defence for the first time since taking the reins.
This formation, which included three centre-backs and dynamic wing-backs, represented a notable shift away from the conventional 4-3-3 setup previously employed by his predecessors Carlo Ancelotti and Zinedine Zidane over the last decade.
The tactical switch brought back memories of Vicente del Bosque’s Champions League-winning team from 2000, which was the last Real Madrid side to utilise a similar structure.
“We’re taking it step-by-step,” remarked Vinicius Jr in an interview with DAZN. “It’s clear that we can’t completely adapt to the coach’s philosophy immediately; it does take time. However, today was a strong performance, particularly in the first half.”
Initially, Alonso had employed a four-man defence in earlier group stage matches, including a 1-1 draw against Al Hilal and a 3-1 win over Pachuca. But against Salzburg, Aurelien Tchouameni was positioned between centre-backs Antonio Rudiger and Dean Huijsen, with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Fran Garcia acting as wing-backs.
In midfield, Jude Bellingham and Arda Guler contributed creatively, supported by Federico Valverde in a holding position, while Vinicius Jr and Gonzalo Garcia spearheaded the attack.
The tactical alteration proved fruitful as Real Madrid took control of the match.
Bellingham and Guler frequently connected with Vinicius in threatening areas, leading to the Brazilian’s opening goal in the 40th minute, where he skillfully navigated past two defenders to find the bottom-right corner.
He then set up Valverde for a goal in first-half stoppage time with a clever back-heeled pass. Gonzalo Garcia capped off the victory in the 84th minute, deftly lifting the ball over the Salzburg goalkeeper to complete a swift counter-attack.
This performance was a notable improvement compared to Real’s previous group encounters, where they often struggled for consistency.
“The first half was solid. We played with patience, understanding that we needed maturity to seize our chances rather than trying to rush,” Alonso conveyed to journalists.
“We started the second half positively and, with the scoreline at 3-0, I’m pleased with the boys.”
Next up, Real Madrid will face Italy’s Juventus in the round of 16 on Tuesday, where Alonso’s strategic approach will undoubtedly be put to the test. It’s anticipated that forward Kylian Mbappe will be available, having missed the group stage due to illness.
“Let’s wait and see; I prefer not to get ahead of myself. We thought Kylian would be fit for this match, but it didn’t work out,” Alonso stated. “We have four days now. I want to remain optimistic, yet also cautious.”
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Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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