Real Madrid may have fallen 1–2 to Manchester City in their latest Champions League outing, but inside the club there is a shared belief that the performance marked a step forward. The commitment, ...
Real Madrid may have fallen 1–2 to Manchester City in their latest Champions League outing, but inside the club there is a shared belief that the performance marked a step forward.
The commitment, intensity, and organisation on display were far superior to what fans witnessed in the defeat to Celta Vigo.
Yet, despite the improvement, one glaring issue overshadowed everything: Madrid’s lack of attacking punch.
Numbers tell a different story
As per MARCA, the numbers reveals just how blunt Los Blancos were going forward.
Without Kylian Mbappe in the starting lineup, Madrid managed only one shot on target, their lowest total in a Champions League home match since the 2003/04 season.
The match once again highlighted how decisive Mbappe has already become for Xabi Alonso’s team.
To put things in perspective, in the Champions League, Mbappe averages a goal every 3.55 shots.
Real Madrid were very lethargic in attack against Man City. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)
Despite recording 16 total attempts, Madrid repeatedly found themselves stuck in the same cycle – promising build-up play followed by poor execution in the final moments.
Every possible route to goal was explored, including pressing transitions, wide overloads, set-piece routines, and even late-box arrivals from Vinicius Jr. acting as a makeshift striker, but none produced the breakthrough.
Too much dependacy
The team’s dependency on Mbappe has become undeniably clear. Without him, Real Madrid appear predictable in the final third and often lack the cutting edge needed to unlock elite defences.
Defensive errors can be corrected through training, while missed passes can be ironed out.
But goals are ultimately what heal everything at the Bernabeu, and right now, finding them has become a complex puzzle.
As Alonso works to stabilise the squad during a crucial period of the season, rediscovering attacking balance, with or without Mbappe, remains the most urgent challenge Madrid must solve.
Category: General Sports
