Real Madrid secured a third consecutive victory Saturday, defeating Sevilla 2-0 and moving within one point of la Liga leaders FC Barcelona. However, despite the positive result, scrutiny remains high for manager Xabi Alonso, who arrived at the club this summer from Bayer Leverkusen, with Spanish media reporting his position is increasingly under pressure. The win came as kylian Mbappé matched Cristiano Ronaldo’s record for most goals scored for Real Madrid in a calendar year, tho reports indicate the team’s broader performance continues to fuel concerns among fans and analysts alike.
Three Straight Wins for Real Madrid – Is Everything Finally Clicking?
Not quite. Real Madrid secured a third consecutive victory Saturday evening, defeating Sevilla 2-0, but the performances remain unconvincing. The Spanish powerhouse previously earned a 2-1 away win against Deportivo Alavés and a narrow 3-2 victory over third-division side Talavera CF in the Copa del Rey. This latest result tightens the race at the top of La Liga and keeps Real firmly in contention.
Despite the positive results, concerns are growing about the team’s overall form, and the situation for Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso, who arrived from Bayer Leverkusen this summer, is reportedly becoming increasingly precarious, according to Spanish media reports.
Kylian Mbappé Matches Ronaldo Record
Alonso was reportedly on the brink of dismissal before this week, with these three games seen as crucial. While he delivered results, the team’s struggles continue to cast a shadow over his position.
Real Madrid’s win over Sevilla moves them to within one point of league leaders FC Barcelona, who face a tough test Sunday against third-placed Villarreal (4:15 PM local time).
Jude Bellingham opened the scoring for the hosts at the Bernabéu Stadium with a 38th-minute header, a moment celebrated by his younger brother, Jobe Bellingham of Borussia Dortmund, who previously played alongside Jude. Kylian Mbappé headed against the crossbar in the second half (57’), but goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was forced into several key saves to preserve the lead. Sevilla were reduced to ten men in the 68th minute after Marcao received a second yellow card.
Mbappé then sealed the victory from the penalty spot in the 86th minute. It was his 59th goal for Real in 2025, tying Cristiano Ronaldo’s record for the most goals scored for Real Madrid in a calendar year.
“Seriously?”: Alonso Frustrated with Real Madrid Circus
Fans Unimpressed with Alonso’s Real Madrid
Spanish media outlets are calling the victory a fortunate one.
“Mundo Deportivo” wrote: “Real Madrid won against Sevilla, but that didn’t mean the situation of Xabi Alonso improved. Quite the contrary. The Royal Whites played poorly as usual, and only a penalty against a ten-man Sevilla brought calm to the ranks.”
In other words, Alonso’s position has reportedly worsened due to the lackluster performance!
Alonso himself expressed dissatisfaction: “I am not satisfied with our level today. My mood doesn’t change at all, I understand the game, I analyze it.”
“As” reported: “The Christmas break remains precarious. The fans of Madrid and the club look beyond the victory against a weakened Sevilla and don’t like what they see: the same unfocused team, helpless in defense and only kept alive thanks to a superb goalkeeper and the best scorer of the year, perhaps even of the decade. Almeyda’s Sevilla had four one-on-one situations against Courtois, who emerged as the hero of the week twice, and a dozen other good chances. With half of those chances, they would have won hundreds of games. Ultimately, Madrid went to bed with just one point behind Barça, but the whistles from its fans certainly didn’t let it sleep.”
A harsh assessment of Alonso’s team.
“Marca” stated: “It seems Xabi Alonso will enjoy the Christmas break without further surprises, but he has not dispelled any doubts. On the contrary, they have even increased, with a tired, sluggish game and a worrying defensive weakness. Sevilla lacked accuracy in finishing and there was too much resistance from Courtouis, the figure of the Christmas evening. The Belgian gifted his coach the turrón (a traditional Spanish Christmas sweet) without much support from his teammates, who lacked intensity.”
The “Marca” report also suggests that doubts about Alonso remain, even if his dismissal isn’t imminent. One thing is clear: despite three wins, relaxed holidays are unlikely at Real Madrid.
