Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso has admitted that his side struggled to find their rhythm in the goalless draw against Rayo Vallecano in La Liga.
“Xabi Alonso: ‘We Knew It Would Be Demanding’ After Draw with Rayo”
The Spanish giants failed to make their dominance count in the Madrid derby, leaving Vallecas with just a point after a frustrating performance.
Speaking after the match as reported by Diario AS, Alonso acknowledged that facing Rayo away from home is always a difficult challenge, noting Madrid’s recent struggles at the ground.
“We knew it would be a demanding match. It’s always tough here and today was no different,” he said.
“Rayo push you to your limits. We couldn’t create enough danger in transitions, but defensively we stayed strong.
It wasn’t about lacking intensity — it was a very tight and competitive game.”
The result marked Real Madrid’s second consecutive match without scoring, following their 1-0 defeat to Liverpool in the Champions League.
Despite the lack of goals, Alonso remained calm about his team’s attacking form. “After the game at Anfield, we wanted to control the tempo and play our way.
In the second half, anything could have happened. It’s not about confidence or emotion; it’s part of the league’s rhythm,” he explained.
Alonso also clarified his decision to leave Trent Alexander-Arnold on the bench, opting instead to start Fede Valverde at right-back.
The choice backfired slightly when Valverde was forced off with an injury.
“Fede was fit before the match. Trent still needs a bit more time, and the upcoming break will help him prepare properly,” Alonso said.
With two straight games without a win, Real Madrid will look to rediscover their attacking spark and bounce back in their next La Liga fixture as Alonso aims to keep them in the title race.
