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Three talking points ahead of Real Madrid vs Alaves | La Liga MD 32
Real Madrid put up a performance to be proud of for the greater part of the game against Bayern Munich last week, especially taking into consideration the team’s poor form heading into the game.
In the end, however, an unnecessary red card and a late collapse undid all the work Los Blancos put in and saw them get eliminated from the UEFA Champions League in the quarterfinal stage.
Tomorrow night, they will take to the field for the first time since that elimination as they face Deportivo Alaves at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The atmosphere at the home stadium, needless to say, will not be a pleasant one given the team’s recent results but Alvaro Arbeloa’s men will be desperate to turn their situation around against the league’s 17th-placed side.
Madrid Universal brings you three talking points ahead of Real Madrid vs Deportivo Alaves.
And then there was one
Real Madrid’s season took a turn for the worse after the international break, one that has seen them virtually out of all competitions in a matter of weeks.
The UEFA Champions League and La Liga were the two remaining competitions in which Los Blancos were alive ahead of the last hiatus.
Having faced elimination from Europe against Bayern Munich over two legs, however, Real Madrid are now alive only in one competition – and that too seems to be a formality.
In that sense, Real Madrid’s season is all but over as they now have to play only the remaining league fixtures hoping for a miracle in the competition. Nine points behind Barcelona with seven games to go, the chances are near zero.
Los Blancos, in that sense, are set for another season without major trophies, setting a rather gloomy situation ahead of the summer transfer window.
There is hope for a miraculous turnaround in the league, but Barcelona are unlikely to go on a tilt and Real Madrid will have to play their remaining games in the competition with virtually no goals.
Worst run in a long time
Real Madrid’s form since returning from the international break has been despicable, so much so that the numbers take one back several years to find an equally poor run of form.
The Merengues have played four games since the return of club football after the break. Of them, they have somehow even failed to win a single game.
Barring a draw against Girona, all of Real Madrid’s games after the break have been defeats, leaving them winless in four straight games across all competitions.
To draw perspective on how poor that run is for the club, the last time they endured a comparable run of form was back in September to October of 2018 when they went five straight games without a win with four defeats under Julen Lopetegui.
The damage is indeed already done, and the four poor results have shut down all potential routes to a trophy. However, there is an urgent need to turn the situation around, at least for the club’s reputation.
Seven games remain in the season, and while there is nothing left to fight for, finishing with wins would be massive for the players, the management, and the administration.
Players on alert
The season may be complete in terms of the squad’s hunt for silverware, but there is a lot left for the players to play for – in fact possibly even more than before.
Real Madrid have seven games to go, but their inability to win a major title for the second straight season implies that massive changes are incoming in the summer.
Reports have already begun to float in about Los Blancos’ revamp and how the administration is looking to trim the squad by doing away with players who are not living up to the billing.
No one, on that front, is safe and every game from this point will be an audition for every player representing the club’s crest for a place in the squad next season.
The likes of Ferland Mendy, Fran Garcia, Dani Carvajal, Dani Ceballos, Eduardo Camavinga, and Brahim Diaz are some of the names that stand out as players who may potentially be forced out who will all look to step up.
Beyond the aforementioned list too, however, it is safe to say that very few Real Madrid players, if any, are truly safe. There is, thus, a lot to play for from the players’ perspective as they head into the final run of the season.
Real Madrid’s international break was an eventful one, but not for the reasons one would expect. After all, the media has ensured that the club’s name stays in the limelight for all the wrong reasons, and it is clear that the pressure is now mounting on them.
Having gone two seasons without a major trophy, this was supposed to be the season Los Blancos got back on track and made their presence felt globally once more.
So far, however, they have not taken a single step towards that objective yet and have gone game after game just scraping by with three points.
With the first international break now past them, however, they have crossed the first milestone of the season and all eyes will now view them with higher scrutiny. Slow adaptation can no longer be the excuse.
Tomorrow, the club return from the international break and take on Villarreal at the Santiago Bernabeu, and it will be interesting to see if they can bounce back in La Liga with a win.
Madrid Universal brings you three talking points ahead of Real Madrid vs Villarreal.
Vinicius Jr. under heavy pressure
The season is only getting more complicated for Vinicius Jr. as the weeks pass, and it is now time one begins to wonder at what point the player will begin sinking.
Having already been in a slump in form over the past two seasons, the new campaign has begun disastrously for the Brazilian star as he no longer has the same impact in the final third for club or for country.
Vinicius was stellar at the FIFA World Cup, and many saw it to be the redemption arc for the player. He returned to Real Madrid, however, and resumed struggling once more.
Over the past few weeks, his performances have gone from bad to worse. Just when one thought the international break could be his redemption once more, he has only gone on and dropped an even poorer chain of displays with Brazil.
Against Australia and even India, the player looked absolutely uninspiring, lost for ideas and disconnected from the play. He now returns to Real Madrid even lower on morale, and it remains to be seen what Jose Mourinho makes of the situation.
Ahead of the international break, there was already talk of Yan Diomande potentially taking Vinicius’ starting spot on the left-flank with Arda Guler starting down the right.
If Vinicius cannot step up in the coming games, that theory may well end up becoming a reality.
Eyes on Kylian Mbappe
While Vinicius Jr. made the headlines in the international break for one reason, Kylian Mbappe caught the media’s attention for a different reason, but the Frenchman is also under the same pressure as his teammate.
Having left the French national team camp after suffering an injury, the player went on vacation with his friends and partner.
On vacation, he even put up clips of himself indulging in activities like cycling, which would be acceptable in any scenario except a world where he is suffering from a knee injury.
The development, needless to say, did not go down with Real Madrid fans, French fans, or the media, and a lot has been said about the player in recent days, including a massive smear campaign.
Mourinho knew of Mbappe’s vacation and even sanctioned the same, but fans cite Mbappe’s actions as a lack of professionalism and commitment to the club.
Mbappe has largely performed for Real Madrid this season, but he will be under pressure tomorrow once more as he must prove that he is indeed well and truly past his injury and that his small getaway did not affect his fitness.
After all, the period ahead will be challenging and will need Mbappe to be at his best week in and week out.
An unforgiving period ahead
Real Madrid lost their last game before the international break, which was against Atletico Madrid in the Madrid derby, and are currently six points behind Barcelona, who continue to sit on a perfect record.
What lies ahead of them across all competitions, however, is a serious challenge that could already make or break the club’s season.
Tomorrow’s game against Villarreal, in that sense, is just the start of a grueling month where Los Blancos have multiple high-stakes games against challenging opponents.
They take on AS Roma in the UEFA Champions League midweek in a tricky game, and then have an in-form Sevilla who are just two points behind them in the league standings. Thereafter, Real Madrid take on RB Leipzig and then FC Barcelona in La Liga.
Any slip-ups over the next month could see the team nine, or even potentially twelve, points behind Barcelona, who are showing no signs of slowing down. Getting on track, thus, is imperative.
After a slow start, it is thus high time Mourinho’s side wakes up andsmellsl the coffee, for there is no more time to waste. They have looked unconvincing for far too long, and it is now time to take matters in their own hands.
