Sometimes, a significant defeat serves as a necessary, albeit painful, lesson. Real Madrid experienced this firsthand in a recent Club World Cup semifinal, suffering a decisive 4-0 loss against Paris Saint-Germain. Adding a layer of narrative intrigue, this match marked Kylian Mbappe`s first encounter with his former club since his high-profile move to Madrid. For the French forward, and indeed for the entire squad, it was a challenging outing, particularly after a string of more promising performances in the earlier stages of the tournament.
Mbappe, making his first start after recovering from illness, found himself largely contained, managing only 27 touches throughout the match. His attacking counterpart, Vinicius Jr., received similar attention, limiting their collective impact. The stark lack of penetration raises a critical question: Why did a team that had previously looked dynamic suddenly appear so disjointed? The answer, it seems, lies in the tactical setup forced upon coach Xabi Alonso.
Due to key absences—Dean Huijsen through suspension and Trent Alexander-Arnold sidelined by injury—Alonso departed from the system that had brought Real Madrid success earlier in the tournament. Instead of the fluid hybrid formations, often resembling a 3-5-2 or a dynamic 4-4-2 diamond, Madrid adopted a more conventional, static 4-4-2 shape. This tactical shift inadvertently made it easier for PSG to control the midfield, stifle creativity, and effectively neutralize Madrid`s primary attacking threats.
The contrast between the systems is illuminating. Real Madrid`s more successful setups had leveraged the attacking prowess of wing-backs like Francisco Garcia and Alexander-Arnold, who were instrumental in creating opportunities and providing width. This approach mirrored elements of Alonso`s highly effective tactics previously employed at Bayer Leverkusen – a breath of fresh air that allowed players like Francisco Garcia, who seemed on the fringes, to thrive.
When constrained to a traditional back four, however, the team struggled to transition from defense to attack, and the overall play lacked its former fluidity. The PSG defeat exposed the limitations of this less flexible structure against top-tier opposition. Moving forward, the picture is brighter with the anticipated return of key defenders like Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao, who made their first appearances of the tournament in the very match against PSG. Their availability provides Alonso with greater tactical flexibility.
Furthermore, defensive options like Antonio Rudiger, Huijsen, Raul Asencio, and Aurelien Tchouameni offer various combinations at center-back, allowing for adjustments and potentially facilitating the return to a back-three or hybrid system. It is within this preferred structure that the potential for Madrid`s attack, and specifically for Kylian Mbappe, truly lies.
While Mbappe and Vinicius Jr. occupied similar spaces on the field at times last season, the issue isn`t their positioning as much as the mechanism for getting them the ball in dangerous areas. This is where players like Alexander-Arnold, known for his exceptional ability to play piercing, line-splitting passes, become invaluable. Feeding the ball quickly and creatively through defensive lines is precisely what enables elite forwards to operate effectively.
Consider Mbappe`s output last season: 43 goals and five assists, even arguably without being a perfect fit in every tactical iteration. Now, envision that same talent consistently supplied by passes that break defensive structures. The potential is undeniable. The humbling 4-0 loss to PSG, while painful in the moment, served as a clear demonstration of the tactical path Real Madrid needs to prioritize. By embracing the dynamic system that maximizes their attacking talent, they not only recover their form but potentially set the stage for a season where Kylian Mbappe could realistically target the 50-goal mark. The lesson was harsh, but the potential reward is significant.
