Real Madrid - Juventus: Real is not a one-man team

22/10/2025 07:42:00 VictoryVox

Kylian Mbappe is displaying an unstoppable scoring streak, consistently finding the net and influencing nearly all of Real Madrid’s games. Yet, head coach Xabi Alonso insists that the triumph of Los Blancos stems from collective effort rather than just one player.

Mbappe has activated his "goal-scoring machine" mode. After scoring against Getafe last weekend, he has found the back of the net in 11 consecutive matches for both club and country, totaling 15 goals. This season, he has only failed to score once in 14 appearances, tallying 18 goals, which has helped Real Madrid secure 10 wins out of 11 matches in La Liga and the Champions League, while also contributing to France’s recent perfect record of three wins.

Mbappe is the heart, not the entire body

It’s no surprise that people talk about the "Mbappe dependency syndrome" at Real Madrid. Leading the La Liga scoring charts with 10 goals in 9 rounds, he seems to carry the entire attacking burden for Los Blancos alone. However, coach Xabi Alonso disagrees with this viewpoint. "Is Real Madrid dependent on Mbappe? I wouldn’t say so," Alonso commented after the victory over Getafe. "Of course, he is an outstanding player who fights for goals in every game, but we also have other talented players supporting him."

Alonso acknowledges Mbappe’s decisive scoring form and how it brings "new spirit and energy" to the team. Yet he stresses that "there is much more behind those goals" and "all players are important." He compares Mbappe to the "heart," but not the "whole body" of Real Madrid. The hard-fought 1-0 win against Getafe, a match where Real Madrid struggled to implement their tactics and faced intense pressing, proves Alonso’s point. The team had to "roll up their sleeves" and fight with focus and unity to secure the three points.

The deadly trio Mbappe - Vinicius - Guler is ready to "devour" Juventus

The destructive trio and collective strength

Mbappe might be the best independent striker in the world, but at Real Madrid, he rarely shines alone. He is backed by a smoothly operating system and excellent supporting players, especially Arda Guler and Vinicius Junior. This trio forms a "three-headed monster," responsible for up to 85% of Real Madrid’s total goals this season.

Arda Guler is emerging as Mbappe’s indispensable partner. The young Turkish midfielder has provided 5 assists this season, all for Mbappe. He delivered the decisive pass for Mbappe’s lone goal against Getafe. Their partnership is becoming increasingly perfect and forms the foundation for Alonso’s attacking strategy at Real Madrid. Meanwhile, Vinicius is gradually regaining his peak form. Although he came off the bench against Getafe, he immediately made an impact by reducing the opposition to nine men. With 5 goals and 4 assists this season for Los Blancos, Vinicius is experiencing the best start of his career. The chemistry between him, Mbappe, and Guler (2 of Vinicius’s 4 assists are for Mbappe, 1 for Guler) turns Real Madrid’s attack into a highly lethal trident.

Real Madrid may not be a one-man team. They operate like a winning machine, with Mbappe merely playing the final role: putting the ball in the net. If he doesn’t shine, other stars like Vinicius, Guler, Rodrygo, or Bellingham are always ready to step up and decide the game. Los Blancos’ belief in victory never fades.

Facing a Juventus in crisis is the perfect opportunity for Alonso’s attacking machine to continue flourishing. It’s hard to imagine Juventus’ defense, shattered by injuries and lacking confidence, standing up to Real Madrid’s destructive form. This expected victory will not only reinforce their top spot in the Champions League group but also provide a perfect psychological boost ahead of the crucial El Clasico against Barcelona at the weekend.

The youth of Turkey

A notable clash at the Bernabeu tonight is the duel between two of the brightest young talents not only in Turkish football but in world soccer: Arda Guler of Real Madrid and Kenan Yildiz of Juventus. Both are 20 years old, play as number 10s, hold pivotal roles in their teams’ tactics, and have performed well since the season began.

The difference is that while Guler continues to shine, Yildiz has been fading alongside Juventus’s declining form. Beyond tactical reasons, Yildiz appears overburdened and unable to maintain his capability. Unlike Guler, who enjoys freedom within Real Madrid’s star-studded squad, Yildiz almost single-handedly has to do everything and is gradually suffocated on the pitch. Last weekend, Yildiz lost a duel against another young star, Nico Paz.

Facing his compatriot Guler tonight, will Yildiz have a different outcome?

Nguyen Vinh

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