Xabi Alonso starts his mission: Real Madrid against Salzburg!

Xabi Alonso starts his mission: Real Madrid against Salzburg!

Miami, USA - On June 26, 2025, FC Salzburg will compete against Real Madrid as part of the FIFA Club World Cup. The expectations are high after the last meeting of the two teams in the Champions League for the Salzburger ended with a 1: 5 defeat. Real Madrid looked back on a mixed last season in which they became runner-up, reaching the Champions League quarter-finals and stood in the Copa del Rey final, but could not win a title. The balance against arch -rival FC Barcelona was particularly bitter, against which Madrid lost all games in four matches.

The foundations at Real Madrid have changed under the new coaching tour of Xabi Alonso. The former Real Madrid player and successful coach at Bayer 04 Leverkusen has the task of tactically disciplining the team and familiarizing a controlled style of play. In the defense, Real Madrid had often weakened last season, with an average of 1.13 goals per league game and 1.60 goals in the Champions League.

transfers and squad changes

In the current transfer period, Real Madrid has signed several key players. Among the new additions are central defender Dean Huijsen from the AFC Bournemouth for 62.5 million euros and Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool for 10 million euros. Franco Mastantuono was also brought by River Plate for 63.5 million euros. These new additions should help strengthen the defensive that will play a central role under Alonso.

Another important aspect of Alonso's plan is the integration of young talents. The decision to use Gonzalo Garcia as a new storm player after his outstanding performance in the FIFA club World Cup reflects this philosophy. Garcia, a product from La Fabrica, was impressed and quickly developed the coach's trust. He scored a goal in his first game after his promotion and prepared another.

debut and first game

Xabi Alonso celebrated his debut as a trainer of Real Madrid in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 in Miami. In the first game against Al-Hilal from Saudi Arabia there was a 1-1 draw. Real Madrid had several good chances in the game, but Federico Valverde missed a penalty in injury time that could have secured the team. Gonzalo Garcia put Real Madrid in the lead in the 34th minute, but Ruben Neves equalized before half -time.

The next challenge for Alonso and his team will be the game against the CF Pachuca on Sunday, followed by the group's end against FC Salzburg on June 27th. However, the team has to do without David Alaba and Kylian Mbappe, which are missing due to injuries. Alaba has again had to undergo knee surgery, which questions his sporting future.

The upcoming games will be crucial for whether Alonso can successfully implement his plans at Real Madrid and the team leads into the season with a new strategy.