According to MARCA.
New Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso has made a decision about the formation he wants to implement at the Santiago Bernabeu, opting for a 4-3-3 system according to MARCA. Alonso was known for his 5-3-2 formation with Bayer Leverkusen, but the Spanish coach has realized that the current roster isn’t built for that kind of system, per that same report.
With Dean Huijsen and Raul Asencio as the only first-team players available to play in the center-back spot, Alonso has ultimately decided that a 4-3-3 suits his current squad much better.
Aurelien Tchouameni could also be deployed as a center-back until Militao, Rudiger or Alaba come back from their injuries, but Alonso wants to play him as a defensive midfielder knowing that the Frenchman established himself in that spot during the last months of the 2024-25 season.
Alonso knows that he will have to be flexible and the 5-3-2 formation could still be an option when Real Madrid recover some of their depth on defense, but right now the 4-3-3 seems to be the go-to option.
