And then came Xabi Alonso‘s Real Madrid. Amid hours of debate recalling past glories under Ancelotti, there was a sense that something could change but that it would take months of hard work and patience—something that is always lacking at a club like Real Madrid. But Xabi wasn’t going to put up with memories for another minute.
The muscle memory of a low-block, low-pressure, disorganized, and energy-deficient team was extinguished in Philadelphia. Because the match began with two teams that wanted to take control of the ball, with a lot of energy in their pressing, and where Real Madrid gradually overwhelmed their opponents. If someone who hadn’t seen Real Madrid in months saw this, they could only attribute it to some kind of spell.
The formation changed and the three center backs who had been so successful for Xabi in Leverkusen returned. Especially in the attacking phase, Tchouaméni slotted in between the center backs alongside Rudiger and Huijsen; the fullbacks spread wide, Valverde played as a defensive pivot, and Guler was fully integrated as a playmaker.
There was also a new position for Bellingham. The Englishman played on the right, with Trent as his perfect partner, finding spaces and getting to the byline… This was the best version of Jude, who had been looking increasingly lost in a position that neither he nor anyone else could recognize. In the first 10 minutes, Madrid managed to get into the game but without any clear chances, apart from a few crosses from the wings. A few minutes later, an unstoppable Gonzalo won the ball back, linked up with Trent, who put him in a good position on the right, but Vini missed the shot.
Real Madrid were a nightmare for any defense. Quick movement in the final third, lots of mobility, no signs of relaxation… They kept pushing and the clearest chance came in the 19th minute. Bellingham played a perfect ball to Vini, who missed a clear one-on-one. It wasn’t to be their first combination of the day, although it was one of the most fruitless due to the Brazilian’s mistake. Salzburg gradually tried to get more of the ball and pushed Madrid back like a wounded boxer letting in goals. Madrid’s defense—much better than in the other two games—did seem to struggle a bit with Xabi’s new system. The Austrians had chances but couldn’t finish.
And then, in another Bellingham–Vinicius combination, the light finally came on. Jude produced a pass that you don’t often see and, as my father used to say, one that justifies his millions. He slipped it between the center backs, Vini, who had made a perfect run, controlled the ball, waited for his marker, got away from him, and finished with his left foot into the net. First for Madrid. Bellingham, in his new position, was Bellingham again. And Vini, more liberated and more accurate, was Vini again. Xabi Alonso had achieved everything John Lennon described in Imagine.
But the party wasn’t over yet. Right at the end, in stoppage time, a good move by Vinicius on a loose ball left him alone in front of the goalkeeper, and he decided to emulate Guti – on the DAZN microphone – at Riazor. It was more of a step backwards when the logical thing to do was to shoot at goal. He left it dead for Valverde, who slotted it into the net to make it 2-0. As they say now, champagne football. And it was only the first 45 minutes.
Real Madrid shows no signs of slowing down
You can take Ancelotti out of Real Madrid, but you can’t take Real Madrid out of Ancelotti. Because that muscle memory thing echoed in the early stages of the first half. Salzburg, however, needing to change everything or else be out of the competition—Al Hilal was beating Pachuca—went all out for the comeback. Real Madrid sat back, lost energy, and the three center backs in defense seemed to be the only weak link of the day.
Because Courtois had to come up big twice to prevent Salzburg from scoring the first goal. The good news—within the bad—is that the goalkeeper also seems to be back in top form. Madrid began to play for a decisive counterattack, and Salzburg pressed and pressed without success.
Little by little, the forces were equalized again. Real Madrid, more tired, began to have more possession and accumulate chances without too much danger. In the 60th minute, Rudiger gave a scare after a run in attack where he took his hand to his knee. The ghosts of his meniscus injury appeared and Xabi prepared Rodrygo on the wing.
The German, on the ground, laughed and finally continued on the field. A few minutes later, in the 65th minute, Bellingham cleared a shot that seemed definitive off the line. Real Madrid had lost energy and Xabi Alonso was not going to wait any longer. Triple substitution. Vinicius, Rudiger, and Guler came off; Modric, Rodrygo, and Jacobo Ramón, making his Club World Cup debut, came on.
A few minutes later, in the 73rd minute, Ceballos also came on for Valverde. Fede’s performance as a defensive midfielder would be worthy of an entire article. He was everywhere and, with the ball, he was another pair of lungs for the team’s build-up play. As things stood, Madrid completely deflated as the minutes ticked by. The job was done, though, and maintaining the initial level of intensity seemed impossible.
Rodrygo took up position on the left, the position he claims is best suited to his style of play and where Arsenal want him. He looked lively, involved and eager to show that he still has a few more chapters to write in the history of Real Madrid. And out of nowhere came Gonzalo’s goal. An erratic pass from Trent, which was touched by the defense, was not enough to extinguish Gonzalo’s spark. He accelerated, left his marker behind, and finished with a soft chip over the goalkeeper. It was the third goal of the match and his second in the Club World Cup. Real Madrid now has nine goals to fall back on.
The match ended that way. Real Madrid took the victory 3-0 and qualified as group winners. Salzburg, meanwhile, were knocked out of the Club World Cup following Al Hilal’s victory. The first 45 minutes of Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid exceeded all expectations for only their third game. It was a performance that Madrid had not seen in a long time. A completely different side, but with only the group stage victory to show for it so far. The best is yet to come.