Champions League debut marks Xabi Alonso's first 100 days as Real Madrid boss

The Champions League is synonymous with Real Madrid. Every year, it's their number one objective. On Tuesday, Xabi Alonso makes his debut as 'Los Blancos' coach in a competition where he knows what it is to taste glory as a player. And wearing the same shirt that he now defends from the bench, where he is about to reach his first 100 days.

His UCL opener against Olympique Marseille comes on day 99, but serves as a milestone to close a first cycle and begin to reflect on the foundations of this new Real Madrid. And with which he already warns: this is just a beta phase. On Monday, taking advantage of a question about Mbappe's start, Alonso tried to take the pressure off the group... and himself: "We all have the feeling that this is a project that is just beginning. And at Real Madrid, one of the objectives is to win the Champions League. Hopefully sooner rather than later, hopefully we are on the right track."

Although he still had a contract until the summer of 2026, the 43-year-old coach had a gentleman's agreement with Bayer Leverkusen that was fulfilled with the call from Real Madrid. On May 25th, his return to the Santiago Bernabeu was announced 11 years after his departure in the summer of 2014 to Bayern Munich. Given his confirmation as a coach in Germany, where he led the 'Die Werkself' to the first Bundesliga in their history, it was only a matter of time before he returned. It only took Carlo Ancelotti to confirm his 'affaire', now turned into a formal relationship, with Brazil.

The World Cup, a testing ground

A couple of weeks later, on June 9th, Xabi and his coaching staff faced their first day in charge with the first session to prepare for the FIFA Club World Cup. The 'Merengues' may not have had a pre-season in the usual sense afterwards, but they were able to use the tournament in the United States to begin to set ideas with a group almost identical to the one that has officially started this 2025-26 season. Dean Huijsen, Trent Alexander-Arnold arrived then and Gonzalo Garcia stayed, great news during Kylian Mbappe's absence. On his return, he has been overshadowed, as expected.

The other two post-Club World Cup signings, Alvaro Carreras and Franco Mastantuono, have been instant hits for Xabi. The Argentinian still needs a lot of maturing time, the result of his recent coming of age and the leap that it means to debut in Europe with a club like Real Madrid. But it is significant that the coach gives him playing minutes as soon as he arrives to reinforce his confidence. The Spaniard will be tested on nights like this Tuesday.

From what was seen at the Club World Cup to what there is now, there are already a couple of months of work and evolution. There are also differences in the intensity and focus of the competition. The United States was a testing ground where we saw Xabi introduce the 3-5-2 against Salzburg and Juventus, while against Borussia or in the defeat against PSG in the semi-finals he recovered Ancelotti's diamond formation at times. However, in this start to the league season he has maintained more fixed ideas with a 4-3-3 and a 4-2-3-1 formation where Arda Güler has become the free man who makes the team play. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Arda Guler, Mbappe, Huijsen...

The Turk, converted into an inside forward, attacking midfielder and everything he wants to be, has taken an important step forward in football and responsibility. He assisted Mbappr in Oviedo, scored his first goal of the season against Mallorca (and another that was disallowed) and against Real Sociedad he scored the second 'Los Blancos' goal when the team was already a man down. In addition, he has understood what it takes to defend the 'Los Blancos' badge. He has already given Mastantuono a push to defend, so his credentials go beyond asking for the ball and looking forward.

In San Sebastian, the one who assisted him was a Kylian Mbappr who is taking on another dimension compared to last season. And that was when he finished the season with 44 goals. This season he has four goals in four games, more free from ties in the attacking front, more fine in the first touch and in the finish. He assumes what Vinicius is failing to do, diminished in the lucidity of his dribbling. He only flashed with his half hour against Oviedo and with his goal against Mallorca, but he is far from what he was a year ago, before being left without the Ballon d'Or.

Also worth mentioning in this assessment is the role of Dean Huijsen, who has practically become a midfielder in the build-up. He allows players like Tchouameni to be freed from that responsibility, who has felt good taking a step further up the pitch, in a role similar to the one he had at Monaco. The former Malaga player is the player with the most successful progressive passes (53) and with the most completed passes to the final third (60) in La Liga ahead of Pedri or Pablo Fornals. After his controversial sending off at Anoeta, he needs to be seen in Europe and in big matches, where he will be more defensively challenged. He has the makings of a centre-back of the era, but he has to reaffirm himself by withstanding blows.

Against Olympique Marseille, Xabi Alonso and his Real Madrid make their debut in the UEFA Champions League. The Basque wants to win it sooner rather than later, but makes it clear that his is a project in its infancy. And it's no lie, although the results have been good so far with eight wins, one draw and one defeat. In this start to the league season, four wins out of four, top spot and good sensations. But now the truth begins.