Real Madrid has not been at its best this season, and the change of cycle could affect more than just the bench. With Carlo Ancelotti’s departure confirmed, the arrival of Xabi Alonso is eagerly awaited. He will have to make many decisions to build a competitive squad for the Club World Cup and next season, when the team hopes to be back in contention for titles.
This season, one of the main problems has been in defense, but it has not been the only area where performance has declined. Real Madrid has gone from being a well-oiled machine that won the Champions League and LaLiga a year ago to being a sieve in defense, lacking a compass in midfield to organize the game and suffering from a lack of goals from several of its key players up front.
Mbappé, the only one who stands out
Although he struggled to get going at the start of the season while adapting to the team and LaLiga, Kylian Mbappé has now become Real Madrid’s goal-scoring hero. The Frenchman is enjoying his best scoring run of the season with six goals in his last three league games against Celta (two), Barça (three) and Mallorca (one) last Wednesday.
Kylian Mbappé’s equalizer consolidates his lead in the 2024/25 Pichichi race with 28 goals in the domestic competition. He has also tightened the fight for the Golden Boot, moving into second place, level with Salah and just one point behind Gyokeres. In addition, with 40 goals in his first season as a Real Madrid player, he has become the best debutant ever.
Vinicius has lost his touch
Mbappé’s partner in attack is Vinicius, who seems to have lost his scoring touch. His performance has plummeted, falling far short of the level that made him a clear candidate for the Ballon d’Or last season. This season, he has played in 50 games, scoring 20 goals and providing 14 assists. The Brazilian, who is about to seal his renewal after months of negotiations, is going through a goal drought. Vinicius’ last two goals came in two very weak performances by Mbappé: against Arsenal and Valencia at the Bernabéu.
Rodrygo, the most singled out
In this attacking trio, Rodrygo has been the most singled out in recent weeks. The Brazilian forward has been well below the expected level and has not scored since March 4, when his goal at the Santiago Bernabéu against Atlético gave Real Madrid a slight advantage in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16. In La Liga, the drought is even more acute, as he has not scored since February 19. Too long without a goal, which, together with the arrival of Mbappé, has relegated him to the sidelines, something that the Brazilian is not at all happy about, with many wanting him out. Something he himself is considering.
A striker is wanted and Haaland gains ground
With this poor performance, Xabi Alonso has added a new target to Real Madrid’s to-do list: the signing of a number 9. It is something that the Whites had already considered, missing Joselu as the team’s killer alongside Vinicius and Mbappé. In this regard, as reported by The Athletic, Haaland has always been a player who has been very popular at Valdebebas. With Rodrygo’s current situation and the uncertainty surrounding Vinicius’ renewal, he could be a remote option for Florentino Pérez.