Xabi Alonso's Real Madrid: statistics that counter criticism.
The statistics show that Real Madrid remains strong: leading La Liga with 10 wins – the most in the top 10 European leagues; in the Top 8 of the Champions League with 3 wins, only behind Liverpool; since the summer, only Bayern have won more matches.
Despite criticism following matches against Liverpool and Rayo Vallecano, Xabi Alonso's Real Madrid maintained their winning momentum. The team currently leads La Liga and has the most wins in the top 10 European leagues (10 matches), surpassing both Bayern Munich and Premier League leaders Arsenal. In the Champions League (new group stage format), Real is the only Spanish representative in the Top 8 after 3 wins and only losing to Liverpool.
The international break allowed the noise to die down and the statistics to speak for themselves. Despite a slip-up that narrowed the gap, the overall picture remains positive: Real Madrid not only defended their top spot in La Liga but also maintained their consistent performance in Europe. Their immediate goal is three points at Olympiacos' Karaiskakis Stadium to consolidate their position among the top teams in the Champions League.
The numbers speak for themselves.
Compared to the top 10 European leagues, Real Madrid is the team with the most wins (10). In the Champions League, they are the only Spanish representative present in the Top 8 of the new group stage format, with 3 wins and 1 loss against Liverpool. Only Bayern, Arsenal and Inter maintain a perfect winning record.
| Index | Value |
|---|---|
| Position in La Liga | Leading the way |
| Number of wins in the top 10 European leagues | 10 (highest) |
| Champions League (new format) | Top 8; 3 wins, 1 loss for Liverpool |
| A perfect winning record in Europe | Bayern, Arsenal, Inter |
| From the FIFA Club World Cup to the present day. | Bayern 19 wins; Real Madrid 17 wins |
| Number of losses compared to PSG | Real Madrid 3; PSG 4 |
Even when extending the timeframe from the FIFA Club World Cup – Xabi Alonso's first tournament as head coach – only Bayern have won more matches than Real Madrid (19 compared to 17). In terms of losses, Real have even fewer than PSG (3 compared to 4). These highlights demonstrate long-term cyclical stability, rather than relying solely on short-term emotions.
Historical picture: beginnings among the best.
Real Madrid's start to the 2025-26 season is one of the best in the club's history: only nine previous seasons have done better. Their current performance matches that of the 2013-14 season – which culminated in "La Decima" – and is only slightly less impressive than the hugely successful 2023-24 season, which won 5 out of 6 titles. Looking at the long term, the reliability of the project under Xabi Alonso is assured.
After noise comes stability.
Two defeats – including the derby – damaged the image, but they didn't derail the overall trajectory. Setting aside the emotional aspect, the performance indicators all point to one conclusion: Real Madrid is moving forward at a steady pace, proactively pursuing its goals in both La Liga and the Champions League.
The next focus
In Europe, the short-term objective is clear: leave Karaiskakis with three points to maintain their top position. In La Liga, all judgment will only be made in the next match – Monday morning away at Elche – where Real Madrid need to reaffirm the winning rhythm that propelled them to the top of the table.
In short, the facts are refuting the criticism. Real Madrid under Xabi Alonso has shown a pragmatic, resilient side: leading La Liga, maintaining a position in the top eight in Europe, and keeping a high-performing streak since the summer.