La Liga 2025/26: Real Madrid preview – will Xabi Alonso inspire title success?
Alonso swept the board domestically and won the Champions League as a Madrid player
Real Madrid have recovered to immediately win the Spanish title after each of the last three seasons in which they have not finished top and new manager Xabi Alonso, too, is aiming to become a domestic champion for the second time in three seasons following the former Blancos midfielder’s arrival from Leverkusen as Carlo Ancelotti’s replacement in June.
While Alonso was leading Leverkusen to an unbeaten season in Germany in 2023/24, Madrid finished 10 points clear of Barcelona and became 15-time European champions – but they were top for only four matchweeks in 2024/25 and lost six of their 14 Champions League matches, including a 5-1 defeat to Arsenal in the quarter-finals.
Kylian Mbappe scored 44 goals in all competitions in the striker’s first campaign in Spain and Madrid were unbeaten in LaLiga until October 26, losing 4-0 at home to eventual champions Barcelona in the first of four Clasico defeats across the campaign, giving them ample motivation for revenge.
Madrid are favourites to triumph this time around but face a tall order to overhaul a Barca side who scored 24 more league goals than them.
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Real Madrid signings 2025/26
Almost five years after the left-back left Madrid, 22-year-old Alvaro Carreras returned for £43 million as part of a defensive revamp.
Centre-back Dean Huijsen cost £50m from Bournemouth and Trent Alexander-Arnold signed following the expiry of the England right-back’s Liverpool contract.
Argentina midfielder Franco Mastantuono joined Madrid when he turned 18 two days before the start of the season, having had his River Plate release clause of around £37.8m activated.
What else might change for Real Madrid in 2025/26?
Madrid resembled a team requiring fresh ideas last season and Alonso is certain to oblige, with one of his early challenges potentially to persuade Mbappe and Vinicius Junior to fully engage in the intense press and emphasis on transitions that is part of his 3-4-2-1 formation.
Luka Modric’s leadership and ingenuity might be missed in midfield, where Madrid are arguably yet to compensate sufficiently for the loss of Toni Kroos since his retirement in 2024.
Youth product and prolific Madrid B forward Gonzalo Garcia has been given a deal until 2030 after top-scoring at the Club World Cup with four goals – including the first of Alonso’s reign – and an assist.
Where will Real Madrid finish in 2025/26?
With one pre-season friendly in preparation, assessing Madrid’s current state is tough. As forgettable as 2024/25 was by their standards, they only finished four points behind Barca and took the champions to extra time in the Copa del Rey final.
An easing of their injury misfortunes could make the difference, particularly in defence. Eder Militao, David Alaba, Ferland Mendy and Dani Carvajal missed much of last season, as did midfielders Eduardo Camavinga and Dani Ceballos, while Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior and Brahim Diaz each missed at least six matches through physical issues or suspensions.
Bellingham will miss the start of the season following shoulder surgery and Camavinga has an ankle sprain, and the effect on the wider squad of the Club World Cup disruption could keep them off the top by a narrow margin again.