Xabi Alonso will take charge of his first Champions League match as Real Madrid manager against another former European champion, Marseille.
By Graham Ruthven
European focus
The Champions League always matters to Real Madrid. This is a club that defines itself by the number of times it has been crowned European champions over the course of its history – 15 times, for reference.
While Xabi Alonso has been hired to overhaul Barcelona as LaLiga’s dominant force at this moment in time, he must also handle the pressure that will fall on him to deliver a successful Champions League run.
Alonso is still going through a process of working out the strengths and weaknesses of the squad he inherited from Carlo Ancelotti. Indeed, Real Madrid have used a variety of different formations and approaches this season.
Roberto De Zerbi has gone through his own process to make Marseille competitive again at the top level of continental football, although the Ligue 1 outfit have endured a volatile start to the 2025/26 campaign.
De Zerbi has clashed with some of his own players. There was a dressing room bust-up between Adrien Rabiot and Jonathan Rowe that resulted in the pair leaving the Stade Velodrome. There is a familiar sense of tension around Marseille.
Even still, this is a team with proven threats and experienced heads. Real Madrid can’t take anything for granted against a former European champion.
Key players
In Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior, Real Madrid boast two of the game’s most potent attackers right now. The pair are devastatingly effective at attacking open space with speed, meaning Marseille might have no choice but to drop their defensive line deeper.
Arda Güler continues to grow in influence for Real Madrid as a number 10 with the freedom to drift. Behind the young Turkish international, Aurélien Tchouaméni and Fede Valverde are expected to anchor the midfield.
At the back, Alonso faces a decision over whether to start Trent Alexander-Arnold or Dani Carvajal on the right side. Dean Huijsen, however, will start in central defence despite his red card against Real Sociedad on Saturday.
In Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Mason Greenwood and Tim Weah, Marseille possess a number of potential difference-makers in the final third. The visitors must provide them with service.
This role will fall on Angel Gomes and Bilal Nadir in the midfield unit with Benjamin Pavard set to be an important part of the way Marseille get out from the back under pressure.
Team news
Jude Bellingham remains sidelined through injury with Eduardo Camavinga another midfielder currently unavailable for Real Madrid. Alonso is lighter for options in the middle than he would surely like to be.
Central defender Antonio Rüdiger will also miss Tuesday’s clash with Marseille while Ferland Mendy and Endrick are similarly stuck in the treatment room until further notice.
Amine Gouiri is an injury doubt for Marseille, but De Zerbi otherwise has a fully fit and available squad to choose from for the visit to the Santiago Bernabéu.
Prediction
Madrid should kick off the League Phase with a comfortable home win: Real Madrid 3-1 Marseille.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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