Real’s last match of 2025 felt weirdly familiar: the scoreboard looks nice, but the vibe from the performance is… kinda unsettling. They shut Sevilla out 2-0; Bellingham and Mbappé scored, and the real MVP (not by stats, but by impact) was Rodrygo. And yeah, this win honestly feels like the one that saved Xabi Alonso’s job — because, reminder, he was given three matches to “turn things around.” The third win is now in the bag (after beating Alavés and Talavera in the Cup), so on paper — mission accomplished.
Three Games to Save It: Alonso Stays on the Edge
On paper it looked almost perfect: Sevilla had been stalling, and in the last few La Liga rounds the only real highlight was a 4-0 over weak Oviedo — otherwise, it’s been bleak. Real, meanwhile, came out with a lineup that actually inspires confidence: Dean Huijsen returned fully, and in most positions the starters were out there. Sure, no Valverde and no proper full-backs, but still — clear favorites.
And then the season classic kicks in: favorite, yes; comfort? Zero.
Rodrygo Flipped the Switch: “I’m the Director Today”
Short version: both goals grew out of Rodrygo’s actions. He won the free kick in the 38th minute, delivered a perfect ball — and Bellingham buried it with a header. Clean, grown-up stuff: set piece, delivery, timing — textbook.
Then Rodrygo added a little mini-drama: in the 41st he tried to squeeze a penalty after contact with Marcão in Sevilla’s box — but the defender barely touched him with an arm, and referee Alejandro Muñiz didn’t buy it. Worse for Rodrygo: he even got booked for simulation. Harsh, but it’s hard to argue with that one.
Rodrygo vs. Marcão: A Yellow-Card Soap Opera
If there was any “spice,” it was in Rodrygo’s duel with Marcão. They were at each other all half, and at times it felt like someone was absolutely going to overcook it. Rodrygo went in from behind in the 44th — and if the ref wanted, he could’ve pulled out a second yellow without blinking. But Rodrygo got away with it.
In the end, it was Marcão who got sent off: in the 68th he picked up his second yellow for bringing down Bellingham. That basically ended the storyline — Sevilla down to 10, and Real thinking, “Okay, now it should get easier.”
No-Doubt Penalty, Mbappé Celebrates in Style
After the red card, Real actually woke up — and Rodrygo looked like he’d hit the “add magic” button. In the 78th he nearly produced a masterpiece, a karate-style strike that felt like a throwback to Zidane-era highlight reels.
And then the 85th brought the moment nobody could dispute: Rodrygo got taken out for real this time, by Juanlu. Stone-cold penalty. Mbappé converted, and his celebration instantly reminded people of Cristiano Ronaldo. And honestly — when you’ve got 17 league goals, you’re allowed a little “legend mode” cosplay.
The Most Worrying Part: The Press Doesn’t Work, but the Line Stays High
Even with a 2-0 win, there’s a weird aftertaste: Real once again looked like a team that survives way too often on pure quality and Courtois. The high press didn’t click, yet Alonso still kept the back line high — which gave Sevilla the perfect script for attacks: clean build-up early, then balls over the top into space.
It wasn’t just a feeling — Sevilla created more than you’d ever want to allow at the Bernabéu: talk of five big chances, around ten shots from inside the box. Courtois made five saves and basically dragged the team away from a “we could be 0-2 or even 0-3 down by halftime” scenario. And that’s what’s scary: when your best plan without the ball is “Tibo will handle it.”
Alonso Has Ideas, but Right Now They’re Not Plugged In
Tactically, Alonso tried things: Vinícius and Rodrygo often positioned narrow instead of wide, trying to pull Sevilla’s full-backs inside and open space behind them. But with Real’s attack moving way too passively — not enough sprints, not enough rotations — Sevilla never really got stretched. The tweaks with Tchouaméni dropping into the back line to form a three also look logical on paper, but in real time the constant shifting led to mistakes — and with Arda Güler not offering much defensively, the load only grew.
Bottom line: it feels like the coach is searching for a compromise between “how it should be” and “what they can actually do,” and right now it’s landing in that awkward middle — not this, not that. Not a disaster, sure; but also not football you’d be excited to rewatch a second time.
The Barça Chase and Personal Records: This Part Is Juicy
There’s plenty of good news too — the kind that feels properly “royal”:
- Mbappé has pulled away in the scoring race, and 17 goals in La Liga is straight-up ridiculous. Over the calendar year he hit 59 goals for Real — matching Cristiano Ronaldo’s best year of his career — and he did it on his birthday. That’s a perfect celebration.
- Rodrygo seems to play Sevilla like he’s got cheat codes: he’s now on 4+3 against them. More importantly, he finally looks alive — with ideas and swagger.
- Bellingham has found his form too: he’d been assisting against City and Alavés, and now he scored himself.
- Vinícius is a separate story: he wore the armband and worked hard, but he’s now 14 matches without a goal (that’s what people are saying). Either the breakthrough is right around the corner, or it’s become a mental thing.
And the most important table update: Real have closed the gap to Barça to just one point (at least until the Catalans face a very tricky Villarreal).
The Fanbase Is Split — and I Get Both Sides
After games like this, you always get two camps.
Camp one: “This is awful. No ideas, all one-note, nothing to hope for in the Champions League, the defense is a revolving door. Thank you, Courtois — otherwise we’re down 0-2 or 0-3 by halftime.” And honestly? I get it. There were way too many alarm moments.
Camp two: “New coach, new season — what did you expect, 5-0 every week? Real isn’t about beauty, Real is about winning.” That’s fair too. Seasons are long, and trophies aren’t handed out for aesthetics — they’re won with points.
I’m somewhere in the middle: the result matters and it’s valid, but if Alonso wants more than just “survival” and actually aims to build a team, the ideas have to work on the pitch — not just the names on the shirt.
Next Up, Betis: A January Reality Check
Real start 2026 with a match against Betis at the Bernabéu on January 4. And that’s a proper test: if we get another “we won, but we got played through” performance, the worry stops being a feeling and becomes a diagnosis. If they look more cohesive, though, you can say the adjustment pains are genuinely fading.
