Real Madrid starts the LaLiga season amid doubts, expectations, and a certain tension in the air. Barça's 3-0 win in Mallorca has raised the bar of demands, with the white fans expecting an immediate response. However, problems are piling up for Xabi Alonso right before his official debut on the bench.
The Donostian coach, who is facing his first campaign as the white team's coach, won't have all the pieces available for the debut against Osasuna. In fact, he faces it with five absences, almost half the team.
This situation forces him to improvise and to trust that the bench depth will respond from day one.
A preparation that's too short
Real Madrid has barely had time to prepare for the season. Between the Club World Cup and the limited training time in Valdebebas, the team arrives at the first matchday with reasonable doubts.
The white fans remember that last season started with an irregular streak, fearing that history could repeat itself. Unlike Barça, which didn't struggle in Mallorca, Real Madrid gives the impression of still being under construction.
Five key absences
The main difficulty for Alonso isn't just the lack of match fitness, but the confirmed absences. As many as five players will miss the league debut, which forces the coach to rethink his starting eleven.
The coach will have to fill important gaps in defense and attack, with the added pressure of not failing at a Bernabéu that doesn't forgive. Each absence is a headache and reduces the chances of surprising with a competitive team.
Xabi Alonso won't be able to count this Tuesday (9:00 p.m.) at the Bernabéu on Bellingham, Camavinga, Mendy, and Endrick. All four are injured.
Antonio Rüdiger also won't be available, as he's still serving a suspension from last season.
The ghost of Barça's 3-0
Barcelona's convincing victory in its visit to Mallorca has set the tone in Madrid. The comparison is inevitable: while the eternal rival wins convincingly, the whites arrive with doubts and limitations.
The culés have started by sending a message of power. Real Madrid, meanwhile, is forced to respond as soon as possible to avoid giving a sense of weakness in a championship where early stumbles can weigh heavily.
Alonso asks for calm and trust
In his first statements, Xabi Alonso has tried to lower the tension and convey calm. The Donostian knows that the season is long and that what's important is to find balance as the matchdays go by.
"We're building a strong and competitive team, but we need time and patience," he has said privately to his inner circle. The idea is not to dramatize in case of an early stumble, although the Madridist media environment usually doesn't give a break when negative results arrive.
A trial by fire
Real Madrid's debut thus becomes an early test for Xabi Alonso. With absences, with incomplete preparation, and with the added pressure of the culé 3-0, the coach will have to show that he can manage adversity.
The Bernabéu will deliver its verdict, with the fans expecting the team to at least show character and personality. Losing ground to Barça from the first matchday would be a blow that's hard to take.