Xabi Alonso: on the ropes and without Mbappé in the Super Cup

Real Madrid will not have Kylian Mbappé in the 2026 Spanish Super Cup. As FCBN had reported, the French international will not be available for the first trophy of the season due to a sprain in his left knee

The '10's' leg discomfort began in early December, but 'Kiki' preferred to push through the last three games of 2025 to try to surpass, or at least equal, the record for most goals with the club in a calendar year. Mbappé equaled Cristiano Ronaldo's 59 goals in 2013, but will ultimately miss between four and five games with Xabi Alonso's team

Xabi Alonso will risk his job with Gonzalo as '9'

The team from Tolosa, in that sense, faces another 'match ball' without their top scorer and main star. Real Madrid fans know that a failure in the Super Cup will likely eliminate the Spanish coach, who closed the first half of LaLiga 4 points behind FC Barcelona after losing a 5-point lead after 11 matchdays.

Xabi arrives at the Super Cup with a record of 19 wins, 3 draws, and 4 losses in 26 official matches. Three consecutive draws in La Liga and a couple of other defeats against Celta (0-2) and Manchester City (1-2) left him on the verge of KO in mid-December

The team's collective play was very poor in the final stretch of 2025, as was the performance of Vinicius Jr., the main target of whistles from the Bernabéu stands.

The 'merengues' depended too much on Mbappé's goals (he scored 29 of the team's 57 goals so far) in the first half of the season, in addition to lacking tactical order and a defined scheme.

And so, Madrid arrives in Arabia with the obligation to win the Super Cup with **Gonzalo García** as the '9'. The academy player responded with a hat-trick on Sunday against Betis (5-1), a match where Real, while improving their offensive play, once again suffered in defense. The academy player, moreover, had not scored for six months and had only just celebrated his first goals of the 25/26 season

Atlético Already Knew How to Crush Xabi Alonso's Madrid

On Thursday, the Whites' rival will be **Atlético de Madrid**, who already crushed their neighbor in the seventh matchday of La Liga with a historic 'manita' (5-2). A defeat against the 'Colchoneros' or, failing that, in a hypothetical final against Barcelona or Athletic, could be the definitive blow to Xabi Alonso's cycle at the 'Casa Blanca'.

The thrashing by Atleti at the Metropolitano was Madrid's first defeat of the season and highlighted the defensive fragility and lack of depth in the 'Merengue' midfield. Although Diego Simeone's team is not going through its best moment (they are coming off a draw with Real Sociedad), they are usually a very tough opponent for Real.

It's no coincidence that Real Madrid has only beaten Atlético in one of their last five derbies (2-1 in the Champions League). In addition to Kylian Mbappé, Xabi Alonso will also be without Éder Militao (injured) and Brahim Díaz (Africa Cup) in the Super Cup

Dani Carvajal, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Dean Huijsen traveled with the team to Arabia, but they will hardly be available against Atlético. With Endrick Felipe loaned to Lyon, Franco Mastantuono is the only offensive alternative available to the trident formed by Rodrygo, Vinicius, and Gonzalo. 

Players Called Up by Xabi Alonso for the 2026 Spanish Super Cup

• Goalkeepers: Courtois, Lunin and Fran González.
• Defenders: Carvajal, Alaba, Alexander-Arnold, Asensio, Carreras, Fran García, Rüdiger, Mendy, Huijsen and David Jiménez.
• Midfielders: Bellingham, Camavinga, Valverde, Tchouaméni, Arda Güler, Ceballos and Thiago.
• Forwards: Vinicius, Rodrygo, Gonzalo and Mastantuono.