Tensions rising at Real Madrid earlier than Villarreal check

Xabi Alonso’s facet’s excellent begin to the marketing campaign got here to a juddering halt with a 5-2 beating by rivals Atletico Madrid, with the repercussions from it felt over the previous week.

The coach was eager to maneuver on after admitting his crew deserved to lose, however some Madrid gamers have been ruminating on it.

Striker Kylian Mbappe stated Madrid “cannot forget” what occurred and needed to preserve working to keep away from having one other night time in the identical vein, after thrashing Kazakh minnows Kairat on Tuesday within the Champions League.

Midfielder Fede Valverde cited an absence of “attitude” a number of occasions when requested in regards to the derby loss and stated gamers had spoken amongst themselves and with the employees about it.

Alonso stated simply blaming the crew’s angle was “too simplistic”, and likewise dropped Valverde for the sport in opposition to Kairat.

The Uruguayan midfielder had been tipped to fill in at right-back after Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dani Carvajal’s accidents, as he has executed earlier than, however insisted he was “not born to play” within the place.

Alonso deployed Raul Asencio there as a substitute, with Spanish media reporting it was a punishment for Valverde saying he didn’t need to characteristic in that function.

“I know I have had bad games, I am aware of it. I do not hide and I face it. I am really sad,” wrote Valverde on social media on Wednesday.

“They can say many issues about me, however on no account can they are saying that I refuse to play.

“I have given everything and more for this club, I have played with fractures, injuries and I have never complained or asked for a break.”

How Alonso suits in England worldwide Jude Bellingham is one other query to be answered.

The coach introduced him in for a primary begin of the season in opposition to Atletico however Bellingham struggled to make an affect.

Bellingham was additionally benched in opposition to Kairat, however in contrast to Valverde, was launched in its place.

The midfielder’s inclusion in opposition to Atletico led to Arda Guler being pushed out to the appropriate, despite the fact that the Turkish playmaker has impressed in a extra central function up to now underneath Alonso.

Vinicius Junior additionally appeared annoyed when introduced off in opposition to Kairat by Alonso, with out having scored.

Madrid path champions and leaders Barcelona by one level and lead Villarreal, third, by two.

The Yellow Submarine’s go to can be one other check of Alonso’s crew’s mettle in massive video games.

A 4-0 thrashing by Paris Saint-Germain within the Club World Cup this summer season and the Atletico defeat raised some fears amongst Madrid followers that they battle in opposition to elite sides.

They have been knocked out of the Champions League within the quarter-finals by Arsenal final season underneath Carlo Ancelotti.

Madrid’s good run of kind in La Liga got here in opposition to groups primarily ensconced within the backside half, aside from Espanyol’s go to to the Santiago Bernabeu.

One massive optimistic for Los Blancos has been Mbappe’s kind. He has 13 objectives throughout all competitions in simply 9 appearances.

Elsewhere Hansi Flick’s Barcelona go to Sevilla on Sunday, seeking to preserve their benefit on the high.

Player to observe: Luis Milla

Getafe midfielder Milla has began the season in wonderful kind and no participant has greater than his tally of 4 assists. Jose Bordalas’ crew’s model is to not everybody’s style however Getafe are sitting in higher mid-table and can look to climb even additional once they go to Osasuna on Friday.

Key stats

1 – Sevilla league win at residence in the entire of 2025

2 – groups left unbeaten this season champions Barcelona and promoted facet Elche

200 – Antoine Griezmann reached a milestone determine for Atletico objectives this week within the Champions League

Fixtures

Friday

Osasuna v Getafe

Saturday

Oviedo v Levante , Girona v Valencia , Athletic Club v Mallorca , Real Madrid v Villarreal

Sunday

Alaves v Elche , Sevilla v Barcelona , Espanyol v Real Betis, Real Sociedad v Rayo Vallecano , Celta Vigo v Atletico Madrid

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