There is a question mark on the Xabi Alonso Puzzle plate to solve after his promising entirely white debut. Rodrygo or Güler, that is the question. And the answer will form the formation. Because although the Brazilian and the Turk can occupy comparable parts of the field, they are not the same kind of player. That is its core.
Who plays for Real Madrid against Pachuca?
Are you going again with the player who was shining against Hilal? Or choose the person from Altindag, who changed the rhythm of the game when he got on the field? The first is more an attacker, the second more a midfielder (or so Real Madrid and Xabi Hope). It is 4-3-3 or 4-4-2. That is the debate for the collision with Pachuca.
There is no such debate in advance. Gonzalo will start again – for his goal and for everything else. He proved that he could be the Joselu-like striker what the club is looking for. But the decision is also about the context. With Mbappé excluded the Salzburg game as a result of gastro -centeritis and Endrick in the treatment room, the place of the rush hour goes to the academy product. His guaranteed partner will be Vinicius.
In the midst of the buzz that is fueled by social media, he must calm it down in the best possible way-with his football. After a withheld debut, Vini must make himself heard. If he starts to dance again, Xabi's Madrid will do that too.
The rest of the line -up seems clear. Tchouaméni remains as midfield anchor, one of the few who shines in that boring opening match. Aurélien was a wall in a engine room without creativity but overcrowded with muscles. To repair the first, Bellingham and Valverde have to perform. Especially Bellingham, who looked kilometers from the player who blinded in white in his first one and a half season. The presence of Güler or Rodrygo will determine their role. With the Brazilian they will join the front three. If it is the Turk, Jude will notice that he drives more to the left flank. Xabi will soon solve the puzzle.
Repeat the backline
In the meantime, the players who protect Courtois continue to protect: Trent, Asencio, Huijsen and Fran García. A rear four in which only the soft giant was really delivered – Asencio gave the penalty away, and Fran was beaten time and time again by Malcom, especially in the first half. In a Madrid side without a playmaker it was Huijsen who acted like the brain. The coach will try to continue feeding his characteristics on the ball, while he gradually integrates Alexander-Arnold in his system after a rocky debut.
So the XI Xabi tends to Before the Pachuca match is as follows: Courtois; Trent, Asencio, Huijsen, Fran García; Valverde, Tchouaméni, Bellingham; Rodrygo or Güler, Gonzalo and Vinicius.