Xabi Alonso changes the rules, Osasuna gets closer, he'll have two starting elevens in one

Xabi Alonso and Real Madrid keep working to reach their best form for the first match of the 25/26 season. Madrid will make its debut on August 19 against CA Osasuna at Santiago Bernabéu in what will be matchday 1 of LaLiga. Before that, the squad will travel to Austria to play a friendly against WSG Tirol at Tivoli Stadion on August 12.

However, Xabi Alonso's team was able to play a "secret" match on Friday morning against CD Leganés. It was a training match to look for sensations that ended with a 4-1 victory for Madrid. The starting eleven chosen by the Basque coach was as follows: Courtois; Carvajal, Asencio, Huijsen, Carreras; Valverde, Ceballos, Brahim; Gonzalo, Mbappé, and Vinícius.

For now, "Defensa Central" was able to learn that three of the four goals were scored by Thiago Pitarch, Dean Huijsen, and Brahim Díaz. In addition to the great match by the Spanish center-back, the young player from La Fábrica was able to score his first goal with the first team thanks to an assist from Kylian Mbappé in the second half.

Xabi Alonso will have to put an end to the doubts

Over the years, Real Madrid has changed its starting elevens. However, the line-ups, except for some occasional variation, were more or less known by heart.

That could change with Xabi Alonso, who still has to decide whether to play with two or three center-backs. In principle, seven players seem untouchable: Courtois, Mbappé, Vinícius, Bellingham, Valverde, Carreras, Huijsen. From there, the Basque coach will keep making adjustments until he finds his ideal line-up.

With the 4-4-2, Tchouaméni could have his spot secured. The question is whether Güler or Dani Ceballos will play, although the Turkish player is the clear favorite. The option of seeing Valverde as a "5" and having Güler or Ceballos join Franco Mastantuono is not ruled out either.

With a three center-back defense, Tchouaméni doesn't seem to be such a sure value. In that case, the door would be wider for Güler or Ceballos, while Arnold would be the pure wing-back ahead of Dani Carvajal. 

It is also not out of the question to see a 4-3-3 in which Franco Mastantuono is the right winger instead of Rodrygo. Valverde and Bellingham would accompany Tchouaméni in midfield, while Mbappé and Vinícius would occupy the remaining attacking positions.