Tensions are increasing in Real Madrid’s test

Real Madrid guest Villarrea on Saturday with the aim of taking back the La Liga campaign after a derby defeat last weekend.

The perfect start of Xabi Alonso for the campaign came in a fatigue to stop with 5-2 beings by Atletico Madrid’s opponents, with the implications of what it felt last week.

The coach was willing to proceed after he admitted that his team was worth losing, but some Madrid players have surpassed.

Striker Kylian Mbappe said Madrid “cannot forget” what happened and had to continue working to avoid having another night in the same spirit after throwing Kazakh Minnows Kairat on Tuesday in the Champions League.

The average Fede Valverde mentioned the lack of “attitude” many times when asked about the loss of Derby and said that the players had talked to each other and with the staff about it.

Alonso said that simply accusing the team’s attitude was “very simplistic”, and also threw Valverde for the game against Kairat.

The Uruguayan midfielder had been overthrown to complete the right after the injuries of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dani Carvajal, as he did before, but insisted that he was “not born to play” in place.

Alonso developed Raul Asencio there instead, with Spanish media reporting that he was a punishment for Valverde saying he did not want to have in this role.

“I know I had bad games. I know it.

“They can say a lot of things about me. But in no way they can say that I refuse to play.

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

How Alonso fits in England, international Jude Bellingham is another question to be answered.

The coach brought him for a first start of the season against Atletico, but Bellingham struggled to impact.

Bellingham also fell against Kairat, but unlike Valverde, he was introduced as a substitute.

The involvement of the medium against Atletico led Arda Guler to be pushed to the right, though the Turkish player impressed a more central role so far under Alonso.

Vinicius Junior also appeared frustrated when he fell against Kairat by Alonso, without scoring.

The champions and leaders of Madrid Barcelona from one point and lead Villarreal, third, from two.

The visit of the yellow submarine will be another test of the Alonso team’s reduction in big games.

A 4-0 thrashing from Paris Saint-Germain at the Club World Cup this summer and Atletico’s defeat put some fears among Madrid fans fighting against the elite sides.

They were hit by the Champions League in the quarter -finals by Arsenal last season under Carlo Ancelotti.

Madrid’s good route to La Liga came against the teams mainly at the bottom of the half, with the exception of Espanyol’s visit to Santiago Bernabeu.

A big positive for Los Blancos was the form of MBAPPE. He has 13 goals in all matches in just nine appearances.

Elsewhere, Barcelona of Hansi Flick visits Seville on Sunday, trying to maintain their advantage at the top.

Player to watch: Luis Milla

Midfielder Milla Getafe has started the season in excellent form and no player has more than his four assists. The style of the Jose Bordalas team is not for the taste of all, but Getafe sits on the upper average table and will look even further when they visit Osasuna on Friday.

Basically statistically

1 – Sevilla League Victory at home throughout 2025

2 – The teams stayed undefeated this season – Barcelona champions and promoted the Elche

200 – Antoine Griezmann arrived at a landmark for Atletico’s goals this week in Champions League

Luminaire

Friday (all GMT hours)

Osasuna v Getafe (1900)

Saturday

Oviedo by Levante (1200), Girona V Valencia (1415), Athletic Club V Mallorca (1630), Real Madrid by Villareal (1900)

Sunday

Alaves v Elche (1200), Seville against Barcelona (1415), Espanyol V Real Betis, Real Sociedad V Rayo Vallecano (both 1630), Celta Vigo V Atletico Madrid (1900)