Xabi Alonso's challenge and ambition

Having spent a long time playing for Real Madrid and experiencing many "El Clasico" matches as a player, Xabi Alonso clearly understands that this is a battle of honor between two teams with rich traditions in Spain. Participating in the El Clasico for the first time as a coach, Real's Xabi Alonso must have set himself the goal of overcoming this important challenge.

Important test

Four defeats last season left deep scars in the hearts of madridistas. Real Madrid fell to Barcelona in La Liga, the King's Cup and the Spanish Super Cup, culminating in a 0-4 defeat at the Bernabeu in October 2024. Those painful defeats not only forced captain Carlo Ancelotti to leave, but also damaged the pride of an entire empire.

Not only is it a chance to close the old sad chapter, Real Madrid welcomes Barca with the hope of opening a new journey, where they are no longer the ones to take the beating but the team that decides the game. That is the reason why Alonso is determined to regain honor for Real Madrid. Victory in the "El Clasico" match will be a measure of his own maturity - the 43-year-old coach has just left the safety zone of Leverkusen to take on the responsibility of leading one of the most pressured teams in the world .

Thử thách và khát vọng của Xabi Alonso - Ảnh 1. — Notable statistics before the big match between Real Madrid and Barcelona. Graphics: VE LOAN

Real Madrid under Xabi Alonso have made an impressive start to the season. After nine La Liga games, they have 24 points, topping the table and have lost just one game to Atletico Madrid. Alonso's style is a harmonious blend of German-style organisation and traditional Spanish creativity.

Before the match, Alonso strongly declared: "We are not only determined to win, but also want to send a message: Real Madrid is now much different from the past. "El Clasico" will be a test for our championship ambitions for the whole season."

Bellingham - the soul of the game

If Ancelotti once put absolute trust in Modric - Kroos - Casemiro, then Alonso is building the team around Jude Bellingham - who he considers "a midfielder with Real DNA". At only 21 years old, Bellingham is not only the leader in the midfield but also the main attacking explosive.

Against Barca, Alonso expects Bellingham to win the duel with Pedri - the midfielder considered the soul of Hansi Flick's team's possession style. Bellingham brings energy, versatility and versatility, while Pedri is a symbol of ingenuity and tactical intelligence. Whoever dominates the midfield will have the chance to control the whole situation.

Coach Alonso's biggest headache is creating a balanced squad when facing a tough opponent like Barca!

The presence of Kylian Mbappé this season has turned Real's attack into the most fearsome trident in Europe, alongside Vinicius Junior and young talent Franco Mastantuono. Under the guidance of coach Alonso, Mbappé has been completely liberated, playing as a free striker, ready to break down the opponent's defense with his speed and comprehensive finishing ability.

On the opposite wing, Vinicius is always a familiar nightmare for Barca. He has repeatedly "tortured" opposing defenders with lightning-fast acceleration. This time, Vinicius will compete with Marcus Rashford - the English star who is becoming a new discovery for Barca this season. The confrontation between two players with great speed and technique promises to be the highlight of the match.

Despite Real Madrid's high spirits, Alonso still faces a tough problem in defense. Injuries keep Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba out, while Xabi Alonso still has to "pull" Federico Valverde to play right-back, giving Eder Militao the center-back position alongside Dean Huijsen, who has just recovered.

On the other side of the front line, Barcelona is not doing any better as the mainstays Ter Stegen, Gavi, Raphinha and Lewandowski continue to be absent. The burden of the "La Blaugrana" attack therefore falls on the shoulders of Lamine Yamal - an 18-year-old talent that Xabi Alonso is particularly wary of because of his terrifying ability to turn the game around.

On the coaching bench, which once belonged to masters like Zidane or Ancelotti, Xabi Alonso is looking to write his own first chapter...

Prediction: Real Madrid 3-1 Barcelona.

If Real Madrid win, they will be 5 points ahead of Barca - enough of a psychological advantage for the long-term race. On the contrary, if they lose, all efforts from the beginning of the season will be questioned.