Atlético Madrid – Real Madrid: Diego Simeone Put A Dent In Xabi Alonso’s Unbeaten Streak (5-2)

Atlético Madrid put five goals past their rivals in the city to put an end to Xabi Alonso’s unbeaten record with Los Blancos. Not only did Real Madrid look stretched out of possession, but they also appeared vulnerable in the following phases of defensive setpieces.

Tactical analysis and match report by Achraf Lamdarhri.

We decided to make this article free to read. If you want to support our work, consider taking a subscription.

Xabi Alonso drove Real Madrid into an exemplary start to the season. Six wins out of six in La Liga, accompanied by a victory against Marseille in the UEFA Champions League opening game. Xabi Alonso’s blueprints were glaringly tangible in the way Los Blancos play football. Flexibility is the dominant theme, and discipline prevails when the team loses possession. Additionally, youngsters appeared to have a key role in the new regime, with the experienced cogs offering leadership. Kylian Mbappé seems to be at his most productive state, as he leads the board in terms of goals scored in La Liga, with seven finding the back of the net.

The same cannot be stated for Real Madrid’s neighbors. Diego Simeone had a tough start to the 2025/26 campaign, as Atlético Madrid sat in eighth place before the Madrid Derby with two wins, three draws, and a single defeat. Not only that, but Simeone’s team went to Anfield and lost the match in the last moments of the clash. Julian Alvarez emerged as Los Rojiblancos, rising to the occasion whenever his manager seemed desperate for a hand to save him. The Argentinian striker banked a hattrick in the last game against Rayo Vallecano to secure the three points.

Diego Simeone started the derby with Clément Lenglet and Robin Le Normand partnering in the middle of the backline. Dávid Hancko and Marcus Llorente filled the fullback spots. Giuliano Simeone and Nico Gonzalez got some chalk on their boots, with Pablo Barrios and Koke forming the double pivots. Alexander Sørloth and Julian Alvarez led the attack.

Xabi Alonso made changes to the formation that started the Levante game. Raul Asencio made way for Dani Carvajal in the right back position. Éder Militão returned to feature in the main eleven alongside Dean Huijsen, whereas Alvaro Carreras replaced Fran Garcia on the left. Aurélien Tchouaméni sat alongside Federico Valverde, with Jude Bellingham starting his first game since the Club World Cup. Vinicius Junior held the width on the left and Arda Güler on the right, with Kylian Mbappé as a striker.

The best start for Diego Simeone

Diego Simeone’s players started the game hindering Real Madrid’s buildup dynamics, forcing them to rush their actions by going long from goal kicks. The white team lined up in a 4-2-2-2 formation in which Dean Huijsen operated wide on the left, Arda Güler drifted inside next to Jude Bellingham, and Vinicius Junior inverted alongside Kylian Mbappé. The hosts responded by making Julian Alvarez and Alexander Sorloth jump onto the center-backs. Koke split Real Madrid’s double pivots with Nico Gonzalez and Giuliano Simeone readying themselves to run toward the opposite fullbacks. Between the lines, Pablo Barrios and Dávid Hancko marked Jude Bellingham and Arda Güler. At the backline, Atlético Madrid maintained an extra player against Vinicius Junior and Mbappé.

Out of possession, Tchouaméni dropped back, so Real Madrid defended in a 5-3-2 shape. The telos was to match the hosts in numbers near the touchlines, as Pablo Barrios looked to join Simeone and Llorente on the right side. As a reaction, Dean Huijsen shifted across to neutralize Atlético Madrid’s numerical advantage, with Tchouaméni and Militão doubling up on Sorloth.

In fact, Alonso’s team forced the play backward with Vinicius Junior and Mbappé funneling the play toward the flanks. However, the lack of pressure on the ball tipped the scales toward the home team’s favor. In the meantime, David Hancko retreated, dragging Dani Carvajal with him. As a consequence, Real Madrid’s right inside channel was stretched. Additionally, Atlético Madrid’s front players tended to bait the visitors forward. That opened up a passing lane between Lenglet and Sorloth, who exploited the space behind Real Madrid. Fortunately, Militão recovered quickly, blocking off the hosts’ striker’s effort.

Diego Simeone’s men kept exploiting their neighbors’ defensive woes. To elaborate, following a possession loss in the opposite half, Real Madrid looked stratified into two distant blocks. That gave Atlético Madrid the chance to work the ball out between the lines and generate transitions.

High up the pitch, Real Madrid pressed in a man-to-man fashion, in which Mbappé accompanied Vinicius Junior to jump on the center-backs. Tchouaméni stepped up next to Güler to keep a close position with Barrios and Koke. Bellingham and Carvajal engaged with the opposite fullbacks, with Valverde marking the inverted Nico Gonzalez. In the defensive line, Militão, Huijsen, and Carreras occupied Sorloth, Alvarez, and Simeone. 

11th minute: Atlético Madrid buildup sequence. Real Madrid channels the play sideways. Pablo Barrios moves toward the touchlines, creating separation against Tchouaméni. In addition, the latter’s attention shifts toward the ball. As a result, the French midfielder’s slide isn’t enough to intercept Llorente’s pass. Barrios carries the ball forward, generating a two-versus-one situation with Simeone against Alvaro Carreras. Pablo Barrios plays an early cross toward Sorloth, whose header is cleared by Thibaut Courtois.

Thirteen minutes in, from a free kick, Julian Alvarez squared the pass toward Koke near the halfway line. Vinicius Junior readied himself to jump on Alvarez, leaving Alvaro Carreras outnumbered by Giuliano Simeone and Nico Gonzalez. The latter’s header was cleared by Valverde. However, Simeone capitalized on the rebound to play the cross to Sorloth, who headed the ball home.

Atlético Madrid’s left side frailties

As a reaction to the host’s high press, Valverde pushed forward, drawing Koke with him. That saw Sørloth retreat to cut off the passing lane between Courtois and Tchouaméni. Therefore, a space around Atlético Madrid emerged for the visitors to progress. Carreras found Vinicius Junior dropping down the wide channel. Meanwhile, Pablo Barrios shifted toward the ball side, leaving Bellingham free to receive in the left half-space.

Atlético Madrid was forced to defend deep in a 5-3-2 low block. Real Madrid’s positional rotations down the right side pulled apart the home team’s defense. When Arda Güler operated wide, Carvajal drifted infield and drew David Hancko forward. Hence, Mbappé was able to sprint into the space vacated behind the hosts’ defensive line. On other occasions, Dani Carvajal hugged the touchlines, tying Nico Gonzalez’s hands, and Arda Güler, narrowing inside, pulled out David Hancko. Moreover, Kylian Mbappé pinned Lenglet, securing depth. That allowed Federico Valverde to attack the right inside channel.

25th minute: Real Madrid generates a three-versus-two situation on the right side. Kylian Mbappé drops between the lines, drawing Lenglet upward. In the meantime, David Hancko steps out on Arda Güler. Consequently, Mbappé heads toward the space vacated to receive Güler’s pass behind Atlético Madrid’s defense. The French striker sprints forward and levels the tie.

With Llorente pushing high up the pitch, Vinicius Junior’s advanced position allowed him to exploit Atlético’s left side in counterattacks, generating isolated situations against Robin Le Normand. Thirty-six minutes in, near the byline, Dean Huijsen cleared the ball forward. Robin Le Normand headed clearance landed at Mbappé’s feet. The Frenchman set Vinicius Junior in a one-on-one situation against Le Normand. The former dribbled past the latter and cut the ball back to Arda Güler, who doubled the score for Real Madrid.

Space between Real Madrid’s lines

The transition from a zonal block to a high press seemed to be far from the end product for Xabi Alonso’s team. Thirty-eight minutes in, Vinicius Junior and Bellingham jumped on Le Normand and Llorente, with Mbappé running toward Lenglet. In the center, Koke exploited the momentum by which Valverde arrived to dribble past him. In the meantime, Nico Gonzalez narrowed inside, drawing Arda Güler’s attention, whereas Mbappé darted toward Koke. As a result, the right wide channel was available for the hosts to progress. Alexander Sorloth and Nico Gonzalez run down the channels, pushing Real Madrid’s defensive line backward. That generated space between the lines for Julian Alvarez to pick up the ball and shoot, hitting the right post.

45+1st minute: Koke steps behind the block, baiting Valverde forward. Hancko entices Carvajal to jump on, with Julian Alvarez coming deeper between the lines to pull Éder Militão out of his position. A counter-movement between Alvarez and Gonzalez releases the latter behind Real Madrid’s backline. Thibaut Courtois early sweeps behind the defense.

By the end of the first half, Real Madrid pinned the hosts backward with Vinicius Junior roaming inside and leaving room for Alvaro Carreras to advance near the flanks. The Brazilian lured Llorente and Simeone forward and slid the ball between the pair for Carreras, who sprinted behind. The latter accessed the cutback zone and picked out Bellingham. The English midfielder laid the ball off to Arda Güler, whose shot went over the woodwork.

The lack of pressure on the ball cost the visitors the second goal. Two minutes into the added time, Arda Güler left Koke unpressurized down the left half-space. The latter, with an inswinging cross, picked out Alexander Sorloth between Dean Huijsen and Alvaro Carreras near the far post zone. The hosts’ striker comfortably guided the ball home, leveling the score before halftime.

Countermovements hindered Real Madrid’s defense

In advanced buildup, Koke tended to drop off and form a situational three at the back, dragging Bellingham with him. Atlético Madrid generated a three-versus-two situation with Mbappé keeping a close position with Le Normand. Thus, Lenglet was able to push the ball down the central corridor. In addition, Alvarez’ deeper movement pulled Dean Huijsen and Federico Valverde out of their positions. At the same time, Alexander Sorloth dummied his lateral shifting to force Raul Asencio to shuffle across.

Consequently, Nico Gonzalez attacked the stretched left inside channel to receive Lenglet’s line-breaking pass. Raul Asencio’s recovery run enabled him to block off the shot and clear it outside. Julian Alvarez picked up the ball in the following phase of the corner to curl it toward the far post. Arda Güler booted the ball clear, but his foot collided with Nico Gonzalez’s head. The referee whistled a penalty kick, which Julian Alvarez turned home.

Xabi Alonso brought in Franco Mastantuono and Eduardo Camavinga for Arda Güler and Dani Carvajal. That saw Aurélien Tchouaméni operate as a center-back with Raul Asencio as right back. Camavinga took place in the middle of the park, with Franco Mastantuono holding the width on the right.

60th minute: Nico Gonzalez drops deep and entices Asencio and Camavinga forward. That leaves Tchouaméni in a one-on-one situation against Julian Alvarez. Camavinga and Asencio retreat. However, Nico Gonzalez sneaks behind the pair, underlapping Alvarez and attacking the byline. Fortunately, Thibaut Courtois saves Gonzalez’s shot.

Two minutes later, Llorente chipped a long ball to the dropping Alexander Sorloth. The latter dominated Aurélien Tchouaméni in the air, heading the ball down to Nico Gonzalez, who dragged Asencio toward the right. That allowed Sørloth to dart into the space at the edge of the box to receive in front of Courtois. The Belgian goalkeeper successfully rose to the occasion. However, Julian Alvarez collected the rebound and was fouled by his compatriot Franco Mastantuono. The former doubled the deficit from a free kick at the edge of the penalty box.

The home team retreated to defend deep, whereas Rodrygo came on. The positional rotations between the latter, Alvaro Carreras, and Kylian Mbappé were nothing more than ineffective against Atlético Madrid’s compact low block. Moreover, the trio tended to infiltrate the box via one-two combinations; however, Gallagher and Atlético’s numerical superiority around the ball prevented the visitors from finding inroads toward the net. Real Madrid was forced to circulate the ball passively around the home team’s defensive unit.

Takeaways

In injury time, Alex Baena picked up Federico Valverde’s miscued pass to scamper forward and assist Antoine Griezmann’s goal, dropping the curtain on the Madrid Derby. The Uruguayan misspass summarized the state through which Real Madrid approached the clash. The second half, in particular, was the second reality check for Xabi Alonso after the disastrous defeat in the Club World Cup against Paris Saint-Germain.

It is worth mentioning that Atlético Madrid created 2.52 expected goals from setpieces. More specifically, Diego Simeone’s men took advantage of Real Madrid’s lack of organization and lack of pressure on the ball in the following phases of each set-play situation. Defensive dead balls are another emergent problem for Xabi Alonso to fix, alongside the defensive frailties.

Use the arrows to scroll through all available match plots. Click to enlarge.
Check the match plots page for plots of other matches.