Madrid’s lineup shake-up and a bench-warm for Vinicius as Elche visit La Liga showdown

Lineups and key moments

Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso announced the lineup for the trip to Elche at the Martinez Valero stadium, in a match that opened the 13th round of La Liga. The attacking template featured Rodrygo paired with Kylian Mbappe up front, while Vinicius Junior and Fede Valverde sat on the substitutes’ bench.

In a surprising call for the defense, Trent Alexander-Arnold started at right-back, with Madrid donning the blue away kit to contrast Elche’s white. Elche released their starting XI as well, aiming to frustrate the visitors and halt a recent winless run in the league that has lingered since late September.

Elche’s lineup, according to the report, included players commonly featured in their setup: Bena, Fort, Avengrober, Shost, Nunez, Aguado, German, Vibas, Dianj, Rafa Mir, and Da Silva. Real Madrid’s list read: Courtois, Arnold, Huesin, Asensio, Carerras, Garcia, Guller, Ceballos, Bellingham, Rodrygo, Mbappe. This indicated a tilt toward intensity and pace in Madrid’s approach to an away assignment.

First-half action saw Madrid push for control as Elche looked to spring counter opportunities, with the visitors seeking to restore momentum after a weekend where Barcelona pushed further clear at the summit following a rout of Athletic Bilbao.

Key moment summaries from the opening exchanges highlighted Madrid’s intent to dominate the midfield and attack transitions, while Elche defended compactly, hoping to nick a goal on the break.

Coaching notes and squad depth

Alonso addressed the media ahead of the game, stressing a need for mental resilience and balance as the calendar tightens. He pointed to Thibaut Courtois as a non-negotiable presence whose decisive saves remain a cornerstone of the side’s reliability, while acknowledging that the team must be sharper in front of goal across the board.

Speaking about Rodrygo and Mbappe’s roles, Alonso emphasized that the collective approach matters more than individual exploits, especially given the heavy fixture load. He also noted that Vinicius Junior, though starting from the bench, remains ready to contribute at any moment, and that the squad’s depth could become a decisive factor as the season progresses.

On the tactical front, Alonso discussed the importance of maintaining focus away from home and the discipline required to translate training into results on matchday. He touched on how the team’s dynamics must adapt with injuries and international duty affecting availability, while reiterating the need for a calm, purposeful approach to each fixture.

Regarding injuries and player availability, the coach highlighted Militao’s situation as a pending update and stressed the importance of managing players’ load to minimise absences. The aim, he said, is to stay ahead of fatigue and sustain performance across a congested period.

Standings, stakes, and a hint of humor

As the league table stood, Real Madrid sat in second place with 31 points, level with Barcelona on points but trailing on goal difference after Barça’s emphatic win at Camp Nou, 4-0 against Athletic Bilbao. Elche, positioned in the middle of the standings, faced a challenge to end a winless run and upset the traditional title contenders.

Alonso’s remarks in the press conference also touched on strategic tweaks, the psychological edge, and the importance of set-pieces as the schedule intensifies. The broader narrative remains whether Madrid can reclaim the top spot or if Barcelona can sustain their advantage in the first phase of the season.

Entering a period packed with fixtures across domestic and continental competitions, Madrid’s manager warned that the team must be mentally prepared and physically ready for a demanding sequence, with options expanding as players recover from setbacks and return to action.

Fans will be watching closely to see if Mbappe’s downturn in goal contributions is indeed a team-wide matter or something that can be addressed with sharper service and more decisive finishing. Alonso’s insistence on balance and shared responsibility suggests Madrid believes in solving the issue collectively, rather than pinning the blame on a single star.

As the match unfolded, the squad’s cohesion and depth will be tested, with a clear message from the coach that the group must stay collective, focused, and ready to adapt to whatever Elche’s setup throws at them. And if all else fails, there’s always the old tactic: run faster and hope the ball finds you with a bit of luck mixed in—after all, even the best plans need a touch of fate every now and then.

Punchline time: If football is a language, Alonso’s team talks are clearly in need of a pre-season dictionary, because the glossary is heavy on “process” and light on “goals.” And remember, in football as in life, if your passes aren’t sliding through, at least your punchlines should keep the crowd awake. Uno más: the ball may be round, but so are our expectations—let’s circle back to the scoreboard and see which direction the arrow points next.