Brutal 'Bath' of Atlético to Real Madrid a month before the first Liga Clásico
Published New:27/09/2025 - 19:11h
Updated New:27/09/2025 - 19:11h
Xabi Alonso's Real Madrid suffered their first defeat of the season in the derby against Atlético (5-2), an epochal 'bath' that revives the ghosts of a team totally overwhelmed during the 90 minutes
Real Madrid arrived as leader of LaLiga and with a full score of points to the Metropolitano for the first derby of the season against Atlético de Madrid, but they took an epochal 'bath' in the 'rojiblanco' stronghold.
Xabi Alonso's team won the first 7 games of the season (1 in Champions League) and faced a 'colchonero' team that barely added 9 of their first 18 points, but they were thrashed resoundingly (5-2) on an afternoon that leaves the 'merengues' very touched.
Real Madrid's disaster in their first key match of 25/26
A month before the first Clásico of 25/26 against FC Barcelona (Sunday, October 26 at the Bernabéu), Madrid relived their ghosts of the previous year in defense.
Both Dani Carvajal and Álvaro Carreras had a disastrous day in the derby, especially the captain. In addition, Dean Huijsen was clearly surpassed by Alexander Sorloth and Éder Militao finished the match touched.
And, in the center of the field, the duo Tchouaméni-Valverde also failed to take the ball throughout the match, while Jude Bellingham was totally missing in his first match as a starter of 25/26.
The team saved a misleading draw at halftime (2-2), but collapsed in the second half after Julián Álvarez's penalty in the 51st minute. In total, 'Aleti' completed 13 shots (7 on goal), for just 6 of the whites (2 on goal, both in the first half), although the 'merengues' had 63% of possession.
Xabi Alonso: portrayed and highly questioned after his first defeat of 25/26
Beyond Madrid's poor defensive performance, the clear target of the defeat is Xabi Alonso. The tolosarra did not get the initial plan right, risking with Bellingham from the beginning and made incomprehensible changes in the second half, already with the whites at a disadvantage.
The Madrid coach wanted to take over the center of the field by placing Jude and Arda Güler ahead of Valverde and Tchouaméni, but Atlético prevailed with authority thanks to the good work of Koke and Pablo Barrios in the recovery, while Giuliano Simeone and Nico González did a lot of damage on the flanks.
In addition, Alexander Sorloth and Julián Álvarez also clearly surpassed the white defenders. On the contrary, Vinicius completed another very poor day, beyond the assist to Güler in the first half. Kylian Mbappé started very well (he scored a goal, but disappeared in the second half.
And, when Atlético regained the lead, Alonso decided to remove Arda, by far the best of the 'merengue' attack, to put Franco Mastantuono. There, Madrid ended up breaking down, totally surpassed in the midfield.
In addition, he moved Asensio to the right side to put Camavinga, another who is still far from his best version. Rodrygo and Gonzalo were testimonial, while the 'rojiblancos' held the lead without difficulty and, to top it off, scored the fifth goal in added time, by Antoine Griezmann.
Xabi Alonso's Madrid: thrashed against powerful rivals
The 'manita' against Atlético was Real Madrid's first defeat against the 'colchoneros' in 75 years receiving five goals. It is also the second defeat (both by thrashing), of the Xabi Alonso cycle.
The two times that the 'merengues' faced 'top' rivals, they were clearly crushed. In the 'semis' of the Club World Cup, Madrid was thrashed by Paris Saint-Germain (4-0), a defeat justified in the white environment because it was a summer tournament, in the middle of the cycle and against the current champion of Europe.
Against Atlético, however, there are no excuses, beyond the usual 'cries' for the arbitration controversies (the 'merengues' will claim several yellow cards and Güler's penalty on Nico González). The 'rojiblancos' gave a 'bath' from beginning to end to their neighbor, reviving the ghosts of 25/26 a month before seeing each other again with Barça.
Hansi Flick's team had a full score in Clásicos the previous year (4 out of 4), with 16 goals in favor. This season, despite the casualties due to injury, the azulgrana team already has 19 goals in the first 5 games. If Real Madrid does not correct in defense, Xabi Alonso's cycle could end like that of Julen Lopetegui in 2019: crushed by the culés long before Christmas.
