1st 25/26 Xabi Alonso Diamond Possible Tactic with Real Madrid

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Here’s the 1st 25/26 Xabi Alonso Diamond Possible Tactic. Real Madrid had one of their worst seasons in the 2024/2025 season, even though they won the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Intercontinental Cup. Carlo Ancelotti left the club at the end of the season, and Xabi Alonso took over as his replacement. Real Madrid has also been busy in the summer transfer, signing Alexander-Arnold, Alvaro Carreras, Dean Huijsen and Franco Mastantuono.

In the tactical side of the team, Xabi Alonso might line up his team in two ways, which are:

4-4-2 Diamond Tactic

3-4-2-1 Tactic.

The 4-4-2 diamond tactic will be discussed in the article. In the setup, Mbappe and Vini will most likely be the double strikers while Bellingham will be the no.10. Alonso might prefer this tactic to accommodate the players Real Madrid have at his disposal. With no further ado, let’s get into the details of the tactic.

1st 25/26 Xabi Alonso Diamond Possible Tactic | Tactical Setups

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In Possession

They start plays by building up from behind, but the goalkeeper can still take a direct kick when the pressure is too much. During build-up play, the central defenders, Huijsen and Rudiger, will drop close to the goalkeeper inside the box. While the fullbacks, Carreres and Trent, will stay wide and ready to attack. Tchouameni will drop close to the box, while Guler and Valverde form double pivots above him.

In the approach play, Alonso will prefer his team to focus on plays either through the sides of the field or through the middle of the field. Los Blancos will prefer to dominate possession through shorter passes. Their tempo will remain slightly higher, plus their creative freedom will be expressive. Lastly, Los Blancos will prefer to look for overlaps on both sides of the pitch.

In Transition

The attacking wide will be fairly wider. During attacks, Alvaro Carreres and Arnold will provide width on the opponent’s half. Vinicius will stay wider, closer to the left flank, while Mbappe or Bellingham will position centrally. Tchouameni will form a back-3 with the central defenders, while Valverde and Guler move to attack.

Counterattacks will be essential in their tactics, and the counters will be mainly fluid counterattacks. In the final third, Los Blancos shall work the ball into the box. When they lose the ball, they will counterpress to win it back the ball quickly. The goalkeeper will distribute the ball quickly or, after slowing the pace down, by rolling it out to the centre defenders.

Out Of Possession

Real Madrid can defend in a 4-4-2 or 4-5-1 shape. Defending compact will also be implemented in the team’s defensive strategy, which forces the opponents wider. The defensive players will also step up the defensive line, to compress the opponent’s attackers, forcing them to lose possession higher up.

They will press opponents higher, at an aggressive pressing intensity, which is a much more often pressing intensity. The line of engagement will be higher, while the defensive line will be much higher.

Formation Lineup

Role Selection

GK

Courtois will be a sweeper keeper on support duty.

CDs

Huijsen and Rudiger will be ball-playing defenders on defence and stopper duties, respectively. Huijsen will stay within the defensive line while Rudiger will push above the defensive line, to close down attackers and break up attacks of the opposition. Two of them are excellent with the ball and can play diagonal passes to offensive teammates.

FBs

The newly signed fullbacks, Alvaro Carrares and Alexander-Arnold, will be the main fullbacks for the team.

Alvaro Carrares will be a wing-back on support duty. During attacks, he would hug the left wing, looking to beat his marker and cross the ball often. In a defensive situation, he will track back to protect the left flank.

Alexander-Arnold will be a fullback on attacking duty. He will stay wider during attacks, look to make runs down the right flank down the right flank. Arnold will also support the team attacks by playing more risky passes and putting first-time crosses into the box. Carvajal will be a fullback on support duty.

DM

Tchouameni will be a half-back in the team. During attacks, he will drop back to form a back-3 with Huijsen and Rudiger, which offers balance to the team. In the defensive phase of the team, Tchouameni will return to the DM position to help recover possession for the team.

CMs

I feel like Xabi Alonso might have Valverde and Guler as his preferred central midfielders.

Valvarde will pick the role of a carrilero. He will cover a wide area, combining defensive responsibilities with attacking contributions. Valverde will track back and provide defensive cover on the right flank. He will also take risky passes and then shoot often outside the box.

Arda Guler will be a roaming playmaker. He will contribute greatly to the attacking phase of the team, with his killer passes in the final third. Guler will be the main source of creativity for the team in the midfield, as he will also dictate tempo switch plays and equally roam from his position. Ceballos will be a deep-lying playmaker on support duty.

AM

Jude Bellingham will be a traditional attacking midfielder on support duty. He will drop short from his position linking the midfield to attack and fashion chances for himself and others in the final third. Bellingham can dribble his way into the final third from the central midfield position.

CFs

Vinicius will operate as a trequartista. He will be more advanced than Mbappe. He has to lead the attacking lines as a striker and also operate as an attacking midfielder sometimes. Vini can stay wide like a left winger and cut inside from there.

Mbappe will be a complete forward on support duty. He will drop short from his position to pick up the ball, connecting with teammates in different positions on the field. Mbappe can drift to the flanks as a partial winger. Gonzalo Garcia will operate like a pressing forward on support duty.