Real Madrid's Potential Squad Dilemmas as They Gear Up for Club World Cup Semi-Final Against PSG
After narrowly defeating Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid is faced with lineup challenges ahead of their upcoming match against PSG in the Club World Cup, as manager Xabi Alonso evaluates his options.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The glitz and glamor that are a defining element of the Real Madrid experience were on full display at MetLife Stadium on Saturday, complete with the Club World Cup’s second-biggest crowd so far and a win over Borussia Dortmund to book a spot in the semifinals. The ease of a 2-0 lead at the 90th minute devolved into sheer chaos in stoppage time with the scoreline concluding at 3-2 in Real Madrid’s favor, with a red card to Dean Huijsen adding to the drama. It was not just a minor bump for the Club World Cup semifinalists as the stoppage time turmoil introduced lineup questions for manager Xabi Alonso, who was already juggling decisions when the game appeared straightforward.
Before stoppage time, it seemed like Gonzalo Garcia was once again the star of Real Madrid’s show. The young player netted the opening goal just 10 minutes in, tallying a total of four goals at the Club World Cup. As Alonso stated post-match, Garcia is a key player for Los Blancos with five goal contributions in five games since his arrival, making a significant impact.
“We’ve seen him play in the last few games and today, he did it again,” Alonso remarked. “He’s a very good goalscorer. He scored 35 goals last season with Castilla, and he’s at the right place at the right time.”
The goal not only showcased Garcia’s talent but also highlighted the promising future for Real Madrid’s attacking lineup, especially with the contributions from Arda Guler and new signing Trent Alexander-Arnold. The game indicated the evolution in Alonso’s strategy, where fullbacks are significantly involved in the attack, as seen in the second goal that featured an impressive assist from Alexander-Arnold.
Alonso acknowledged the team’s adaptation, moving towards a compact style of play that balances attacking and defending, aiming to maintain a high level of efficiency throughout the matches.
“I think that one of our main goals during this Club World Cup is to play closely, with and without the ball,” he added.
While the team’s overall performance reflects Alonso’s vision and ambition to integrate new players like Kylian Mbappe, it also brings forth challenges about the best way to utilize each player’s strengths effectively, particularly as they head into the semifinals against PSG.
