Xabi channels his inner Mourinho as Real push Barça to the limit
Tactical masterclass shows shades of José's pragmatism, with Vinicius ending goal drought and Raphinha stealing the show in Supercopa thriller
Despite falling short in the Supercopa final, Xabi Alonso showed he’s got more than a few tricks up his sleeve with a tactical approach straight out of the Mourinho playbook.
The Special One’s influence
Remember when Mourinho shocked everyone by deploying Pepe as a defensive midfielder before the 2011 Copa del Rey final? Well, Xabi Alonso just pulled a similar rabbit from the hat against Barcelona. The gaffer went full tactical wonk with a surprise five-at-the-back setup, converting Tchouaméni into a makeshift centre-half, tasking Gonzalo with shadowing Pedri, and positioning Vinicius as a proper number nine.
It wasn’t about dominating possession or playing the beautiful game – this was pure pragmatism. The approach didn’t exactly transform Madrid into a footballing juggernaut, but it did allow them to go toe-to-toe with Barça when many expected a proper spanking.
Having experienced Mourinho’s methods first-hand as a player, Alonso clearly took notes. His side showed more aggression, intensity in duels, and commitment without the ball. No sign of that promised “rock and roll” football yet, but at least the gap between Spain’s big two didn’t look like the Grand Canyon many had predicted.
Raphinha: The Brazilian dynamo
Some players just never take their foot off the gas, and Raphinha is absolutely box office in that department. Whether it’s Guadalajara in the Copa or Madrid in the Supercopa, the Brazilian brings the same manic energy every time.
He was everywhere against Los Blancos – pressing, tackling, protesting, dribbling, and most importantly, scoring. After fluffing his first clear chance, he made no mistake with the second and bagged a third (with a bit of help from Asencio) to secure the trophy.
Vini ends his drought
When Madrid needed him most, Vinicius finally showed up. With Raphinha’s opener threatening to open the floodgates, the Brazilian grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck, creating something from nothing with a moment of pure brilliance.
He drove at Kounde, nutmegged him in the danger zone, and after a feint that left Cubarsí bamboozled, fired a clinical finish past Joan. A proper worldie to end a 15-match goalless streak and remind everyone he’s still the dog’s dinner when on form.
Xabi’s double bluff
The mind games started early when Madrid announced Gonzalo on the bench and Arda in the starting lineup, only to “correct” this supposed error 20 minutes later. Then came the tactical shock with the five-man defense featuring Tchouaméni alongside Asencio and Huijsen.
Barça struggled to decode this setup initially, as Madrid successfully dragged the game into a low-tempo affair – until stoppage time blew all tactical plans to smithereens.
Injury crisis deepens
Xabi’s having a proper mare with injuries. Madrid entered the final with Rüdiger watching from the stands and Mbappé only fit enough for emergency bench duty. Then things got worse – Valverde broke down mid-second half and Huijsen limped off too.
They finished with Alaba on the pitch, a bloke who’s been out of the picture for ages. Absolute nightmare.
Mbappé: Class even at half-speed
Even at 50% fitness, the Frenchman managed to draw a red card and create Madrid’s final chance during his 15-minute cameo. Whatever Xabi manages to build tactically, it’s clear this team’s fortunes ultimately rest in Mbappé’s hands.