Real Madrid Under Xabi Alonso: Blasting Off in 2025-26
Real Madrid have made a flying start under Xabi Alonso, building an impressive unbeaten run across competitions. Their strong defensive record and attacking quality have quickly established them among the early favourites for La Liga glory.
After victories over Osasuna, Real Oviedo, Mallorca, Real Sociedad and Espanyol, alongside European success against Marseille, Madrid head into their Levante test with confidence soaring.
Their latest 2-0 victory over Espanyol further underlined the team's growing defensive discipline, with Éder Militão and Kylian Mbappé finding the net.
Alonso has also joined an exclusive group of Real Madrid managers to win their opening five La Liga matches in charge. The achievement highlights just how quickly the former Bayer Leverkusen boss has adapted to life at the Bernabéu.
Now, however, another challenge awaits.
With the Madrid derby against Atlético looming, Levante have an opportunity to make life uncomfortable for the league leaders before attention turns towards the capital's biggest domestic rivalry.
The Xabi Alonso Revolution
Xabi Alonso's arrival at Real Madrid represents more than a change in the dugout. It is a return for a former Madrid player who understands the club's expectations, pressure and winning mentality.
His success at Bayer Leverkusen made him one of Europe's most highly regarded young managers. Alonso's ability to combine possession, pressing, positional rotations and rapid transitions has now brought a fresh tactical identity to Madrid.
His Real Madrid side can change shape during matches, moving between defensive and attacking structures depending on the situation.
The midfield remains particularly important. Players such as Jude Bellingham, Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni provide energy, defensive protection and progression, while Arda Güler and Franco Mastantuono offer creativity between the lines.
At the other end, Mbappé and Vinícius Jr. provide Madrid with explosive pace and finishing ability.
The biggest early difference, though, has been defensive consistency.
Madrid have rarely allowed opponents to gain sustained control, while their ability to recover possession quickly has reduced pressure on Thibaut Courtois.
Madrid’s Unbeaten Run
Real Madrid's early campaign has featured several important victories.
Real Madrid 2-0 Osasuna
Alonso's first La Liga victory provided an immediate glimpse of his approach. Madrid controlled possession while remaining dangerous in the final third.
Real Oviedo 1-3 Real Madrid
Madrid continued their strong start with another convincing performance, demonstrating that Alonso can rotate his squad without completely sacrificing control.
Mallorca 0-2 Real Madrid
The Mallorca encounter tested Madrid's patience. Their ability to remain organised and eventually find decisive goals demonstrated increasing maturity.
Real Sociedad 1-2 Real Madrid
A difficult away fixture demanded concentration and quality. Madrid delivered both, maintaining their perfect league start.
Real Madrid 2-1 Osasuna
Madrid again showed their ability to respond when opponents made the game uncomfortable, with Alonso's tactical adjustments proving important.
Real Madrid 2-1 Marseille
The Champions League provided another test of Madrid's mentality. Rather than panic after falling behind, Alonso's players responded and secured victory.
Real Madrid 2-0 Espanyol
The latest league victory strengthened Madrid's defensive credentials. Militão opened the scoring before Mbappé added another goal to complete a professional performance.
Real Madrid under Xabi Alonso: Blasting Off in 2025-26 – Unbeaten Streak and Levante Test. Real Madrid under Xabi Alonso have blasted off this season. They're unbeaten across six games in all competitions, including five straight wins in La Liga. Victories over Osasuna, Real Oviedo, Mallorca, Real Sociedad and Osasuna again were rounded off by a Champions League win versus Marseille.
Their most recent, a 2-0 win over Espanyol, saw Eder Militao and Kylian Mbappe on target. Alonso now joins Jose Quirante and Vanderlei Luxemburgo as one of only three Real Madrid managers to win their first five La Liga matches in charge. Real possess a rock-solid defensive record so far (never conceding more than one goal in any game), and as Levante look to keep their recent momentum, they'll know this is a huge chance to test themselves. 
With Madrid preparing for a city derby afterwards, Levante might just have one of their best shots yet to dig in, frustrate, and perhaps snatch something before the big boys head into Atletico clash. In the electrifying world of La Liga, where legacies are forged in the heat of competition and under the glare of the Bernabéu spotlight, Real Madrid's 2025-26 campaign has ignited like a supernova. Under the stewardship of Xabi Alonso, the club's prodigal son returned as head coach in a summer of seismic shifts, Los Blancos have surged to the summit with a flawless start.
Unbeaten in six outings across all fronts, including a quartet of Champions League fireworks and five La Liga triumphs, Madrid's early dominance is no fluke—it's a symphony of tactical precision, youthful exuberance, and star power harnessed by a manager who knows the club's DNA intimately. This isn't just a hot streak; it's the blueprint of a dynasty reloaded, with Alonso's arrival marking the dawn of what many pundits are calling "Alonso's Empire." 
As the calendar flips to September 23, 2025, the focus sharpens on a pivotal midweek clash: Levante UD versus Real Madrid at the Estadi Ciutat de València. For the newly promoted Granotes, riding a wave of momentum from recent results, this represents a golden opportunity to ambush the league leaders and etch their name into the folklore of giant-slaying tales.
For Madrid, it's another stepping stone in their quest for supremacy, a chance to extend their unbeaten run to seven before the cauldron of the Madrid Derby against Atlético looms large on the horizon. With a rock-solid defense that has conceded just two goals in five league games—never more than one per match—Alonso's side arrives as overwhelming favorites, but Levante's home fortress and tactical nous could make this a gritty affair. This comprehensive preview delves deep into Madrid's blistering form, dissects Alonso's revolutionary tactics, spotlights key players, and sizes up Levante's upset potential. From the summer rebuild that cost €180 million to the statistical sorcery powering this unbeaten streak, we'll unpack why Real Madrid feels unstoppable—and why Levante might just be the team to test that theory. Buckle up; the Alonso era is here, and it's rewriting the script. 
The Xabi Alonso Revolution: From Leverkusen Legend to Bernabéu Maestro Xabi Alonso's appointment as Real Madrid head coach on May 25, 2025, wasn't merely a managerial change—it was a homecoming of mythic proportions. The 43-year-old Tolosa native, who dazzled as a deep-lying playmaker in Madrid's 2014 Champions League triumph, signed a three-year deal until June 2028, stepping into the void left by Carlo Ancelotti's departure to helm Brazil.
Ancelotti's 2024-25 had been a trophyless debacle, marked by humiliating Champions League quarterfinal exits to Arsenal (5-1 aggregate) and a domestic mauling by Barcelona (16 goals conceded in four clashes, including the Copa del Rey final). Florentino Pérez, ever the visionary, turned to Alonso, the architect of Bayer Leverkusen's invincible 2023-24 Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double—a 51-match unbeaten odyssey that redefined German football. Unveiled on May 26 at Real Madrid City, Alonso's press conference set the tone: "This is the start of a new era, full of excitement and intense emotions." He spoke of a team that "transmits emotion, energy, ambitious play," echoing the club's relentless hunger for titles. Pérez hailed him as "the embodiment of Real Madrid values," a nod to Alonso's six trophies as a player (including La Liga and the Decima) and his coaching pedigree, from Real's U-12s to Real Sociedad B's Segunda promotion. 
Alonso's first competitive outing came at the 2025 Club World Cup in the US, where Madrid navigated a rocky path: a 3-1 win over Pachuca (despite a red card), but a 4-0 semifinal thrashing by PSG marked his debut loss. Undeterred, the real test awaited in La Liga's opener on August 19 against Osasuna—a 2-0 victory that ignited the afterburners. Fast-forward to September, and Alonso has joined rarified air: only José Quirante (1902) and Vanderlei Luxemburgo (2004) had won their first five La Liga games at the helm. His unbeaten streak? A club-record six wins from six, blending Leverkusen's high-pressing flair with Madrid's counter-attacking venom. What makes Alonso tick? His 3-4-2-1 system, a fluid beast that morphs from a compact 5-4-1 out of possession to a whirlwind of overloads in attack. At Leverkusen, he averaged 1.8 goals conceded per game; at Madrid, it's a miserly 0.4 in the league. Injuries? Overhauled medical staff and a Pintus-led fitness regime have slashed downtime by 30%. The result: a squad that's not just winning, but dominating—scoring 12 goals while leaking two in La Liga alone. 
Summer Overhaul: The €180m Rebuild That Fuels the Fire No Alonso era without a Pérez-fueled transfer spree. The summer of 2025 saw €180 million invested to address Ancelotti's pain points: a leaky defense and midfield stagnation. Out went veterans like Luka Modrić (one-year extension expired post-Club World Cup) and Nacho (free to Al-Qadsiah), making way for youth and grit. Key arrivals: Dean Huijsen (€50m from Juventus): The 20-year-old Dutch-Spanish center-back, a towering 6'5" presence, has slotted seamlessly beside Éder Militão, forming a pivot that's won 78% of aerial duels.
Franco Mastantuono (€60m from River Plate): The 17-year-old Argentine wunderkind, a creative No. 10, has three assists in five cameos, injecting the flair Alonso craves.
Álvaro Carreras (€30m from Benfica): A versatile left-back, he's covered for the injured Ferland Mendy, adding balance to transitions.
Gonzalo García (promoted academy): The 19-year-old striker, Endrick's rival for the No. 9 shirt, has two goals off the bench. Retentions like Thibaut Courtois (post-injury renaissance) and extensions for Lucas Vázquez anchored the spine. The preseason was brutal—15 days of prep squeezed by the Club World Cup hangover, plus a forgettable friendly loss in Austria—but Alonso's meticulous sessions forged cohesion. By La Liga kickoff, Madrid was a machine: balanced, bold, and brutally efficient.
Unpacking the Unbeaten Streak: Game-by-Game Glory
Madrid's six-game unbeaten run is a masterclass in controlled chaos. Here's the breakdown:
1. La Liga Opener: Real Madrid 2-0 Osasuna (Aug 19, Bernabéu)
Alonso's bow in domestic action was a statement. Vinícius Jr.'s solo run and Kylian Mbappé's tap-in sealed it, with Courtois' five saves underscoring the defensive steel. Possession: 62%. Shots: 18-4. A gritty win on a tricky surface.
2. Copa del Rey: Real Madrid 3-1 Real Oviedo (Aug 27, Away) The season's first cup jaunt saw Jude Bellingham's brace and Rodrygo's curler overwhelm the Segunda side. Oviedo's early goal? Erased by halftime. Madrid rotated seven, yet dominated xG 2.1-0.6. Alonso: "Rotation builds depth."
3. La Liga: Mallorca 0-2 Real Madrid (Sep 1, Away)
A backs-to-the-wall affair. Militão's header from a Bellingham corner and Mbappé's penalty turned the tide after Mallorca's woodwork rattle. Clean sheet No. 3; Madrid's press forced 12 turnovers in the final third.
4. La Liga: Real Sociedad 1-2 Real Madrid (Sep 13, Away)
Post-international break, Madrid avenged last season's woes. Goals from Arda Güler (stunner from 25 yards) and Vinícius silenced Anoeta. Sociedad's late penalty? Courtois' magic. Unbeaten in seven vs. them now.
5. La Liga: Real Madrid 2-1 Osasuna (Sep 16, Bernabéu) Double-dipping the Navarrese, Bellingham's volley and Mastantuono's assist for the winner. Osasuna's equalizer? A momentary lapse, but Alonso's subs (Güler on) flipped the script. xG edge: 1.8-0.9.
6. Champions League: Real Madrid 2-1 Marseille (Sep 16, Bernabéu)
European baptism: A thriller. Marseille led via Greenwood, but Mbappé equalized before halftime, and Vinícius' 78th-minute curler clinched it. Alonso: "Typical UCL—anything can happen, but we kept going." Half-time tweaks exposed Marseille's flanks.
7. La Liga: Real Madrid 2-0 Espanyol (Sep 20, Bernabéu) The streak-extender: Militão's bullet header and Mbappé's clinical finish. Espanyol managed one shot on target; Madrid's 70% possession was textbook. Clean sheet No. 4; five from five in league. Stats scream dominance: 14 goals scored, 4 conceded overall; 78% pass accuracy; 65% average possession. Defense? A fortress—Alonso's high line, marshaled by Huijsen-Militão, has 92% tackle success. The streak isn't luck; it's Alonso's alchemy.
Tactical Deep Dive: Why Alonso's System Sings Alonso's philosophy? "Control the midfield, dictate the tempo." His 3-4-2-1 evolves: Wing-backs (Carvajal, Carreras) bomb forward, creating 4-3-3 overloads; Tchouaméni anchors as the "regista," spraying 85% long balls; Bellingham and Valverde shuttle box-to-box, feeding Güler or Mastantuono in the holes. 
Attack: Fluid rotations—Mbappé drifts left, Vinícius centralizes, Rodrygo stretches right. Pressing triggers? Immediate, Leverkusen-style: 18 regains in the opp. half per game. Defense: Zonal marking with man-oriented presses; Courtois' sweeper-keeping adds layers. Against Levante? Expect patience—break down the low block with Güler's through-balls. Alonso's cooling breaks? Masterstrokes, adjusting mid-game like a chess grandmaster.
Star Turns: The Heroes Powering the Surge
Kylian Mbappé (5 goals, 2 assists): Transformed from Ancelotti's isolation to Alonso's focal point. His 2-0 vs. Espanyol? Pace and poise.
Éder Militão (2 goals, defensive rock): Back from injury, his headers are weapons; 100% duel wins vs. Espanyol.
Jude Bellingham (3 goals, 4 assists): The engine—volleys, corners, leadership. Alonso: "Fundamental pillar."
Arda Güler (2 goals, 3 assists): Revived; his Sociedad screamer? Magic. 19-year-old Mastantuono? The future.
Aurélien Tchouaméni: Midfield metronome; 92% pass accuracy, key to transitions.
Injuries bite—Mendy (hamstring), Alexander-Arnold (hamstring), Rüdiger (thigh)—but depth (Asencio, Huijsen) covers.
Levante's Moment: Momentum, Mayhem, and Madrid Magic? Levante UD, the phoenix from Segunda's ashes, enter as 16th-placed underdogs with four points from five: losses to Alavés, Barça (3-2 thriller), Elche; a Betis draw; and a 4-0 Girona rout (opponents down to nine). Coach Julián Calero preaches competition: "We're not the little guy." Home form? Ciutat de València unbeaten in three; they've won three of eight vs. Madrid since 2015—one more than prior 24 games. Tactics: 4-2-3-1 low block, counter via Olasagasti's engine and Romero-Eyong's pace. H2H favors Madrid (20-4 in 30), but Levante's 2.5+ goals in eight of nine screams end-to-end. No injuries; full squad, including Iván Romero (3 goals). Odds: Madrid -345 favorites; Levante +700. But with derby rotations (Bellingham, Camavinga minutes), Levante could frustrate—HT lead in five of Madrid's last seven H2H.
The Verdict: Madrid to Edge It, But Levante to Score Prediction: Levante 1-2 Real Madrid. Alonso's machine prevails—Mbappé or Vinícius the difference—but Levante nicks a consolation, keeping it tight. BTTS yes (7/5); Over 2.5 (4/5). Post-match, eyes on the derby: a win here sets up a blockbuster. As the whistle beckons, one thing's clear: Alonso's Madrid isn't just winning—they're redefining dominance. Levante? A speed bump or spoiler? Tune in; history awaits.
FAQs
Who is Real Madrid’s manager in the 2025-26 season?
Xabi Alonso is Real Madrid's head coach, having returned to the club after his successful managerial spell at Bayer Leverkusen.
How has Real Madrid started under Xabi Alonso?
Madrid have made a strong unbeaten start, combining impressive attacking performances with a much-improved defensive structure.
Who are Real Madrid’s key attacking players?
Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Jr. are among the team's principal attacking threats, supported by players such as Jude Bellingham and Arda Güler.
Can Levante beat Real Madrid?
Levante face a difficult challenge, but home advantage and an organised defensive approach could give them an opportunity to cause an upset.
What is the prediction for Levante vs Real Madrid?
The prediction is Levante 1-2 Real Madrid, with Madrid expected to have enough quality to secure another important victory.
Why is the Atlético Madrid match important?
The Madrid derby represents a major test of Alonso's progress and could provide an early indication of how competitive his Real Madrid side will be against their biggest domestic rivals.Xabi Alonso's Real Madrid tactics
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