Xabi Alonso's Four Brutal Lessons from Real Madrid's Crushing PSG Humiliation
Questionable tactical choices from Xabi Alonso, defensive frailties and an ineffective offensive display all played a role in Real Madrid's crushing 4-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain.
With qualification for the FIFA Club World Cup at stake, Real Madrid delivered their most disappointing showing under Alonso's management. The Spanish powerhouse allowed four goals, managed only two attempts on goal and essentially permitted Luis Enrique's squad to dominate proceedings at MetLife Stadium.
The loss brought an end to Los Blancos' pursuit of their maiden silverware following Carlo Ancelotti's exit. As the 2025-26 campaign approaches in under six weeks, Alonso must examine this heavy defeat and identify the shortcomings to prevent similar errors in future matches.
Here are four key lessons Alonso can take from Real Madrid's disappointing display against the current European titleholders.
Overloading the Attack Backfires for Real Madrid
The clearest takeaway from the PSG encounter was that deploying Kylian Mbappé, Gonzalo García and Vinícius Júnior together in attack simply doesn't function. Having utilized just two forwards during Real Madrid's five straight Club World Cup wins, the ex-Bayer Leverkusen manager's choice to field three attackers was puzzling.
Even theoretically, this attacking trio made little sense. Mbappé earned the Pichichi Trophy and European Golden Boot operating as a central striker for Los Blancos, not in a wide position. Vinícius Júnior performs optimally and poses the greatest threat from the left flank and lacks experience playing on the right wing.
Additionally, positioning Gonzalo between the two superstars, who both failed to execute basic passes effectively, made the Real Madrid Castilla graduate completely ineffective. If Alonso genuinely intended to start the 21-year-old, he should have chosen between Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior as his striking partner.
Alonso acknowledged his tactical error to reporters following the game: "Did I make a mistake starting so many attackers? Without a doubt. It was not what we expected."
Rather than fielding three forwards who collectively managed just one shot on target, Real Madrid would have gained more from including an additional midfielder, such as Luka Modrić, to dictate the game's rhythm and sustain periods of ball control.
Kylian Mbappé Continues to Avoid Defensive Duties
Making his debut start under Alonso, Mbappé failed to make an impact. The French forward registered the fewest touches (27) among outfield players who completed the full 90 minutes, generated no scoring opportunities and managed only one shot on target.
More glaring than his attacking struggles was his obvious unwillingness to press or track back defensively. Repeatedly, Mbappé showed no desire to pressure a PSG team that controlled possession. He appeared disinterested, forcing teammates to cover additional ground while he moved without any sense of urgency.
Indeed, Jude Bellingham and Fede Valverde were seen angrily confronting their teammate about his casual defensive approach.
In contrast to Ousmane Dembélé, who scored through aggressive pressing, Mbappé produced a static, limited performance at MetLife Stadium. Alonso must convince his star forward to embrace his new tactical system, which demands pressing from every player, or Real Madrid will continue struggling against Europe's elite clubs.
Real Madrid Must Acquire a Left-Back
If it wasn't clear following Real Madrid's 2024-25 La Liga season, the club desperately needs a left-back signing. The injury-plagued Ferland Mendy and Fran García are insufficient for returning Los Blancos to Spanish and European supremacy.
With Mendy still recovering from injury, Fran emerged as Alonso's preferred left-back (and occasionally left wing-back) during the Club World Cup. The 25-year-old delivered solid displays in America against weaker tournament opponents but was ultimately exposed against PSG.
While Fran excels offensively when given freedom to advance, he represents a defensive weakness. Quality players like Désiré Doué and Achraf Hakimi can exploit the Spaniard, breaking through in dangerous areas with minimal resistance.
Certainly, Fran can adequately start for Real Madrid in La Liga and Copa del Rey matches, but he lacks the ability to compete against football's true elite. With Mendy frequently sidelined through injury, Los Blancos must prioritize signing another left-back.
The club pursued Benfica's Álvaro Carreras during the summer but couldn't reach an agreement for the fullback before the Club World Cup began.
Raúl Asencio Has Lost His Starting Position
Raúl Asencio rapidly advanced at Real Madrid during Ancelotti's final season. During a defensive injury crisis, the Real Madrid Castilla center-back unexpectedly became a regular starter for Los Blancos across all competitions.
The 22-year-old demonstrated quality through his physical approach, earning comparisons to club legend Sergio Ramos. However, Asencio was found wanting during the summer tournament in America, particularly when partnered with the promising Dean Huijsen.
Asencio gave away an unnecessary penalty against Al Hilal that cost Real Madrid three points in their Club World Cup opener, received a red card just seven minutes into his second tournament appearance, and handed PSG their opening goal in his third start under Alonso.
With Huijsen, Antonio Rüdiger and now Éder Militão available for selection, Asencio will find his playing opportunities significantly reduced going forward.