EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The signature glitz and glamour of the Real Madrid experience were fully evident at MetLife Stadium on Saturday. A large crowd, the second-biggest of the Club World Cup so far, witnessed their victory over Borussia Dortmund, securing a spot in the semifinals. What initially seemed like a comfortable 2-0 lead by the 90th minute dissolved into complete chaos in stoppage time, with the final score settling at a dramatic 3-2 in Real Madrid`s favor, further heightened by Dean Huijsen`s red card. This late-game turmoil wasn`t just a minor setback for the semifinalists; it introduced a fresh wave of lineup dilemmas for manager Xabi Alonso, who already faced significant selection questions even before the scoreline became complicated.
Prior to the stoppage time frenzy, Gonzalo Garcia appeared to be the undeniable star for Real Madrid. The 21-year-old opened the scoring just 10 minutes into the match, adding his fourth impressive goal of the Club World Cup campaign. He wasn`t the only fresh face making a significant contribution. 20-year-old Arda Guler provided the assist for Garcia`s goal, and new signing Trent Alexander-Arnold notched his own assist 10 minutes later for Fran Garcia`s goal. The early goal, featuring Guler`s precise long pass and Gonzalo Garcia`s skillful flick, provided a clear look at Real Madrid`s promising new generation of attackers.
However, over 80 minutes after Garcia`s initial impact, Kylian Mbappe matched the 21-year-old`s scoring contribution for the day with a goal of his own. This strike ultimately proved to be the game-winner, a stunning flying kick that reminded everyone of the exceptional quality that made his signing last year so anticipated. It also reignited the long-standing puzzle for Real Madrid: exactly where does Kylian Mbappe best fit into the team structure?
While Garcia initially stepped in due to Mbappe being sidelined with gastroenteritis, with Real Madrid now just two matches away from potentially lifting their first trophy since the 2023-24 UEFA Champions League, it seems unlikely that new manager Xabi Alonso will drop the 21-year-old from the starting eleven. Alonso`s version of Real Madrid, which he aims to imbue with the high-intensity style of his former club Bayer Leverkusen, still exhibits a degree of rawness. It also serves as a reminder of why the team needed to evolve after four successful but inconsistent years under Carlo Ancelotti. While Ancelotti`s tenure had its moments, finding balance became significantly harder after Mbappe`s arrival. This is not a reflection on Mbappe`s immense quality – his 43 goals for Madrid to date clearly demonstrate his value – but with attacking talents like Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo already available, Ancelotti struggled to find a system that effectively accommodated all three superstars.
Consequently, many observers believed Alonso`s primary challenge as Real Madrid`s new head coach would be figuring out Mbappe`s ideal position. The Club World Cup presented an early opportunity to start finding these answers. However, both Alonso and Mbappe were hampered by the player`s gastroenteritis, which forced him to miss the group stage and made his participation on Saturday uncertain until the day of the match. His limited minutes (a 23-minute appearance against Dortmund, similar to his brief outing in Tuesday`s round of 16 win over Juventus) suggest that Alonso might have to choose between starting Garcia or Mbappe when they face Paris Saint-Germain, Mbappe`s former club, in Wednesday`s semifinal.
Alonso hasn`t outright dismissed the possibility of fielding Garcia and Mbappe alongside Vinicius, but finding a tactical setup where these three can effectively play together presents a new strategic headache for the latest Madrid manager. This challenge exists even considering the likelihood of Rodrygo`s departure, which should, in theory, simplify Alonso`s options. Garcia`s impressive form is arguably a desirable problem to have, fitting for a club often seen as the epitome of footballing privilege. Yet, a “good problem” is still a problem that requires a solution. Finding ways to secure victories, as Madrid did against Dortmund, is the most critical solution. However, Mbappe`s role in those victories could ultimately play a significant part in defining Xabi Alonso`s legacy at Real Madrid, even at this early stage of his tenure.
