The spectacle synonymous with the Real Madrid brand was evident at MetLife Stadium on Saturday. A large crowd, the second biggest at the Club World Cup thus far, witnessed a victory over Borussia Dortmund that sealed a spot in the semifinals. What seemed like a comfortable 2-0 lead heading into the 90th minute dissolved into dramatic chaos during stoppage time, with Real Madrid ultimately winning 3-2. A red card for Dean Huijsen added further tension. This wasn`t just a slight issue for the semifinalists; the late-game turmoil introduced new lineup challenges for manager Xabi Alonso, who already faced selection dilemmas even before the scoreline became complicated.
Prior to the frantic final minutes, Gonzalo Garcia appeared set to be the standout performer for Real Madrid. The 21-year-old opened the scoring only 10 minutes into the match, adding his fourth goal of an impressive Club World Cup campaign. He wasn`t the only young player making an impact; 20-year-old Arda Guler provided the assist for Garcia`s goal, and new signing Trent Alexander-Arnold also registered an assist for Fran Garcia`s goal 10 minutes later. The opening goal, in particular, offered a promising glimpse into Real Madrid`s future attacking talent, showcasing Guler`s precise long pass and Gonzalo Garcia`s sharp finish.
Over 80 minutes after Garcia`s early strike, Kylian Mbappe matched his scoring output for the day with a goal of his own. This strike proved to be the match-winner, a stunning flying kick that served as a reminder of the exceptional quality that made him a priority signing for Madrid last year. However, it also reignited the season-long puzzle of how exactly Kylian Mbappe fits into Real Madrid`s attacking setup.
While Gonzalo Garcia initially started possibly as cover for the unwell Mbappe (suffering from gastroenteritis), with Real Madrid now just two matches away from securing their first trophy since the 2023-24 UEFA Champions League, it seems unlikely that the new manager Xabi Alonso would drop the 21-year-old from the starting eleven. Alonso`s version of Real Madrid still shows some rough edges; he aims for the high intensity seen in his Bayer Leverkusen side, while also highlighting the need for evolution after Carlo Ancelotti`s four successful but sometimes inconsistent years in charge. Striking the right tactical balance became especially difficult after Mbappe`s arrival. This isn`t a reflection of Mbappe`s immense quality – his 43 goals in a Madrid shirt so far prove otherwise – but Ancelotti struggled to find a way to consistently accommodate him alongside existing attacking stars like Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo.
Consequently, many saw Alonso`s primary challenge upon taking the Real Madrid job as finding the optimal role for Mbappe. The Club World Cup offered an early test. Alonso and Mbappe faced misfortune with the player`s gastroenteritis diagnosis, which kept him out of the group stage and even led Alonso to describe his availability for Saturday as a game-time decision. Mbappe`s limited 23-minute appearance at MetLife Stadium, following a similar cameo in Tuesday`s round of 16 win against Juventus, suggests that Alonso may be forced to choose between Garcia and Mbappe when they face Paris Saint-Germain, Mbappe`s former club, in Wednesday`s semifinal.
Alonso hasn`t entirely ruled out the possibility of Garcia, Mbappe, and Vinicius playing together, but figuring out the logistics of how those three would effectively combine presents a new tactical headache for the latest Madrid manager. This is even considering the likelihood that Rodrygo may be on his way out, which, in theory, should simplify Alonso`s selection task. Garcia`s impressive form is, in a sense, a desirable problem to have – a classic “champagne problem” befitting a club that consistently embodies footballing elite status. However, a good problem is still a challenge that requires a solution. Finding ways to win, as Madrid did on Saturday, is a key part of that solution, but Mbappe`s specific contribution to those victories may ultimately shape Alonso`s early legacy at Real Madrid, despite being only at the very beginning of his tenure.
