Since taking charge in the summer, Real Madrid have surged to the summit of LaLiga, racking up five straight victories. The tally includes a 3-0 demolition of Valencia, a 2-1 win over Sevilla and a 4-2 thriller against Athletic Bilbao. Coach Xabi Alonso’s tactical tweaks—especially a high‑pressing midfield—have turned the team into a goal‑getting machine, averaging 2.4 goals per match.
Alonso’s side have scored 13 goals while conceding just three, a defensive record not seen at the club since the 2016‑17 campaign. Midfielder Luka Modrić leads the assists chart with four, and newcomer Alejandro Garnacho has netted three times in his debut season. The points gap is narrow—just two points ahead of Barcelona—but the momentum feels firmly on Madrid’s side.
Villarreal arrives in Madrid on October 4 with two wins and a draw from their opening three fixtures. Their defence has been resilient, keeping clean sheets in 60% of games, while striker Gerard Moreno has already contributed six goals. The upcoming clash is likely to be a tactical battle: Alonso’s aggressive press versus Villarreal’s compact, counter‑attacking setup.
Fans and pundits alike are watching to see if Alonso can maintain the unbeaten run or if Villarreal will be the team to finally break it. The answer will likely shape the title narrative for the rest of the season.