Real Madrid’s unbeaten start to the season came to a brutal end on Saturday as they were outclassed in a 5-2 derby defeat to Atletico Madrid at the Metropolitano. The loss not only dented their momentum at the top of the league but also left coach Xabi Alonso openly admitting that his side fell short in every department.
“We didn’t play well as a team, or in pressing, we were not at the level that we should be,” Alonso told reporters after the match. “We’re in a construction phase, today was our first loss and we have to take conclusions from what happened, but there are no excuses, we’re hurting, it’s a derby and a deserved defeat.”
Why Did Real Madrid Struggle in the Derby?
From the opening whistle, Atletico played with greater intensity, pressing aggressively and punishing every lapse in concentration. Alonso acknowledged that his players failed to match that energy. “We lacked that intensity… we didn’t compete well enough today, not at the level that these games need,” he said.
Despite arriving at the derby with a flawless record, Madrid looked disjointed and unable to cope with Diego Simeone’s relentless attacking plan. Alonso admitted his team’s lack of fight contributed heavily to the result, emphasizing that matches of this magnitude demand more resilience.
While frustration was clear, Alonso urged perspective. “We’re not happy, but we can’t forget what we were doing before, what we were doing well. We’re in a state of progress… how we react to this will be the important thing, in the next game, or when we face a strong opponent, like Atletico were today. We wouldn’t be smart if we’re not capable of taking the positive out of the pain that we have today.”
By Yockshard Enyendi