La Liga
The debut of Xabi Alonso at the helm of Real Madrid in the Club World Cup 2025 could not have been more uncomfortable. The white team barely salvaged a 1-1 draw against Al Hilal in a match that left more shadows than lights, and in which Raúl Asencio was exposed as the main culprit of the stumble. The young defender committed an avoidable penalty that allowed the Saudi team to equalize the score in the first half. From that point on, everything fell apart. Alonso, without hesitation, substituted him at halftime.
Asencio started the match showing some composure with the ball at his feet and applying some defensive corrections typical of someone playing for their place in the elite. However, an isolated mistake was enough to overshadow his performance: in a play of little danger, he misjudged his reaction and ended up committing a childish infraction inside the box. Marcos Leonardo didn't forgive from the penalty spot and changed the course of the game.
Raúl Asencio, the main target in Xabi Alonso's debut
The Madrid coach didn't hide his discontent with the central defender's performance. Beyond the penalty, what really concerns Alonso are Asencio's recurring flaws when protecting the hot zone of the field. In Valdebebas, he is no longer seen as a reliable option for demanding matches, and his role in the squad could fade once names like Rudiger or Militao become available.
From established promise to lingering doubt, Asencio starts his season uphill. The new coach was clear in his first match: there is no room for mistakes in his project. And unfortunately, the defender was the first to experience it.
This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El primer gran señalado por Xabi Alonso en su debut con el Real Madrid
