Midfield Masterpiece in Athens: Tchouaméni Reignites Real Madrid's Pulse
29 November 2025
Midfield Masterpiece in Athens
Real Madrid rediscovered their winning rhythm thanks to Frenchman Aurélien Tchouaméni, who proved to be a genuine central piece in a midfield anchored by coach Xabi Alonso, restoring balance to the unit.
Against Olympiakos in Athens, Tchouaméni showed he is the conduit through which most Madrid moves flow, contributing to possession, distribution and control.
According to AS, Madrid ended a run of three straight winless results—a worrying streak for a club that prides itself on consistency.
Gaps, Tactics, and a Return to Form
Alonso noted there are things to improve, but the aim today was to win, and the team did just that after a first-half that included opposition goals and a second-half surge.
AS adds that Olympiakos' three goals in the first half tinted the game, yet Madrid finished with dominance and balance in the second period.
Return of Tchouaméni after two matches out due to injury had a huge impact, with his absence against Rayo Vallecano and Elche felt in Madrid's inability to win those games.
In addition to defensive work, he was a key builder, having five ball recoveries and four successful interceptions, along with 73 passes and 65 accurate ones.
He even tested the crossbar with a long-range effort, narrowly missing a fourth goal that could have changed the tone of the night.
Alonso's dilemma in midfield remains: there is no true replacement for the Frenchman at the heart of Madrid's engine, though some temporary fixes exist.
Camavinga struggles with a role requiring high tactical discipline; Valverde thrives when moving forward; Ceballos had a quieter evening, while Arda Güler and Jude Bellingham offered brighter threats near the box.
In Greece, Alonso experimented with a slightly deeper approach to create space for Mbappe and Vinicius to exploit their speed in transitions, yielding an improved attacking performance though the defense lagged behind.
Ultimately, Alonso understands more than ever that his blueprint relies on a foundational piece: Tchouaméni.
Punchline 1: If Tchouaméni ever leaves Madrid, the ball will start renting space in the midfield. Punchline 2: The midfield is now a one-man show— and yes, the rest of the orchestra is on mute until he signs the score.
