How Alonso Unleashed a Golden Duo: Mbappé and Güler Redefine Real Madrid's Attack

The Alonso Touch: Güler and Mbappé Find Their Rhythm

When Real Madrid signed Kylian Mbappé, all eyes fixed on the French star as the missing piece in the club's European-dominance plan. He arrived with expectations that his speed, skill, and nose for goals would etch a new chapter for the club.

In contrast, Arda Güler was at a different stage—a Turkish prodigy who had been benched under Carlo Ancelotti, waiting for his moment.

Few believed these two paths would converge into one of Europe’s most effective attacks, guided by Xabi Alonso.

From Bench to Blueprint

With Alonso at the helm, everything shifted. The young Spanish coach, renowned for his tactical precision and deep game-reading, recognized Güler's talent and positioned him just behind Mbappé in the heart of the attack, not merely as a winger waiting for service.

He gave Güler the role Ancelotti hadn't, forging a link between the lines and breathing life into Madrid's forward line.

The results were swift and telling. Güler's quick mind and vision fed Mbappé through balls he previously couldn't access, delivering through passes and smart movements that opened spaces.

Over the following weeks, their understanding evolved into a language of its own—visible not just in stats but in the cadence of play.

Across 52 matches, Güler created nine direct assists for Mbappé, while Mbappé contributed one assist to his Turkish teammate. Those numbers, while impressive, barely scratch the surface.

A Spanish press assessment captured the shift: AS noted Alonso had given Güler “the keys” that Ancelotti once kept in his pocket, highlighting how central the Turk had become to Madrid's attack.

Güler's influence extended beyond assists; Mbappé grew more disciplined within Madrid's system, embracing vertical runs and link-ups rather than retreating to the midfield for the ball.

Mbappé began thriving in a more balanced front line—free to attack spaces, rotating with Jude Bellingham and Vinícius Júnior, energized by depth and speed rather than constant backtracking.

Clubs' coverage of this tactical evolution reflected a narrative: a Clasico sequence where a short exchange between Güler and Mbappé culminated in a goal, a moment fans still remember as the blueprint in motion.

When asked about the chemistry, Güler said, "We understand each other naturally. Sometimes we don't even need words—one look does the job." A simple truth that fans witness on the pitch.

A deadly weapon

Since arriving, Mbappé has established himself as a central figure in Madrid's attack, with 18 goals across all competitions this season. Yet when he goes quiet, the team feels the weight—back-to-back matches without a goal, a European loss to Liverpool, and a league draw with Vallecano, illustrate the risk of overreliance on one man.

Mbappé now accounts for more than half of Madrid's goals this season, a statistic that underlines his importance and the delicate balance Alonso has crafted around him.

Numbers that raise eyebrows

While Mbappé's output has surged, the club's overall balance has raised questions. Cristiano Ronaldo's top seasons never saw such a share of the team's goals, and Lionel Messi's best percentages never reached 30%—a stark contrast to Mbappé's slice of the pie this season.

In short, Real Madrid’s new front-line dynamic, under Alonso, isn’t just a spark—it’s a full-on ignition. The fuel? Mbappé’s goals and Güler’s imagination, all steered from midfield by a coach who seems to have found the right key and the right door at the same time.

Sniper joke 1: If this partnership were a movie, Alonso would be the director, Mbappé the star, and Güler the plot twist nobody saw coming. Sniper joke 2: Football is a simple game—until Alonso brings out the cheat codes and suddenly Madrid’s attack feels like it’s on Career Mode with unlimited retries.