Real Madrid 3-1 Pachuca: Tactical Revolution and Rise of Rising Stars under Alonso s New Deal

Real Madrid's 3-1 victory over Pachuca is not just an ordinary victory. In the new era of coaching by Xavi Alonso, this game further confirmed several key tactical changes, and also witnessed the shining moments of the new stars.

Gonzalo Garcia: The perfect transformation from youth training to the first team

21-year-old Garcia is proving with practical actions that he already possesses all the qualities of first-team players. The young forward's intelligent pass and exquisite picking show in the face of Pachuca creates the best offensive opportunity in the game. What is even more impressive is that when Alonso's defensive position instructions against Vinicius were ignored (TV viewers could even hear Alonso loudly remind Vinicius on the sidelines to maintain the formation and block the pass route), Garcia took the initiative to adjust to the wing position, showing tactical understanding beyond his age.

Under the training of Spanish youth training system and Castia, Garcia has performed outstandingly on both the left and right wings. If his presence in the penalty area against Saudi Hillal is impressive, then his fulcrum role and ability to release his teammates with one pass are even more eye-catching when facing Pachuca. Although Mbappe's return may compress his playing time, there is no doubt that Garcia's value is rising rapidly, and Alonso and the coaching staff must be extremely satisfied with his performance.

Midfield Goal: by chance or tactical revolution? It is no accident that all three goals against Pachuca were from the midfielder's back-shot run. Real Madrid often became a victim of this type of goal last season, and the team has obvious flaws in tracking running players. Now that roles are interchangeable, all three goals come from the midfield, there is a deep tactical logic behind this.

Federico Valverde's words after the game were quite inspiring: "Alonso does not want the midfield to retreat too deeply. He requires us to stay between the defense lines and actively move forward. "Real Madrid now has players like Huyson and Trent who can deliver penetrating passes, and inside midfielders or No. 8 players no longer need to retreat to participate in the organization. This not only allows them to stay higher, but also puts their energy into the runs inserted in the back row.

Early predictions of the Alonso era? We will see more goals from the midfield. This tactical adjustment not only improves offensive efficiency, but also a perfect interpretation of the evolution of the role of the modern football midfielder.

Dean Huyson: Perfect performance of value-for-money signings

In just two games, Dean Huyson conquered all doubters. I was worried that he would have difficulties in transition defense, especially in the large space defense that Real Madrid central defenders often faced, but so far, his performance is perfect.

Huyson stood the test in every aspect: 50-50 scramble, one-on-three counterattack defense, air superiority and penalty area defense, dribbling in the backcourt, penetrating passes, and even assisting the wing defense to support the full-back. With Alaba's long-term injury, it is particularly important to have a central defender who can organize attacks from the backcourt.

data tells everything: Huyson's penetrating pass (31 times), frontcourt penetrating pass (11 times), successful pass (127 times), clearing (10 times) and heading clearing (6 times) all ranked first among Real Madrid players. Such a comprehensive performance makes people sigh at the cost-effectiveness of this signing.

Ruel Asensio: The contradiction between talent and mistakes coexist

Ruel Asensio appears in the "Lessons Learned" column for the second consecutive week. First, there was a penalty kick last week, and this week it was a red card. Last week we focused on his reckless decision-making issues, and this week let’s reexamine the young player’s potential.

Some people claimed that Asensio was the central defender in the next decade when he made his mark last season, and others were skeptical and quickly jumped out and suggested loaning him to Getafe when he performed poorly recently. The truth is often in the middle. He is a central defender worth staying in the team – able to stand up when needed – but is currently too prone to mistakes and impulses to be trusted as a starter.

Asensio has all the qualities of success at Real Madrid: speed, ability to adapt to high-level defense, long passes, calm dribbling, and a sense of urgency on the defensive end. He will cheer up again, the question is whether Alonso will give him another chance or let him sit on the bench for a long time. With the current development trend of this team, there is very limited room for mistakes.

The era of fresh blood has arrived

Two games have come, and three names are particularly prominent: Dean Huyson, Gonzalo Garcia and Arda Gule. These young faces are seizing their own opportunities under the leadership of the new coaching staff. Although it is still in its early stages, the Club World Cup will help determine the role division and provide reference for transfer decisions in the 2025-26 season.

Alonso's Real Madrid is undergoing a quiet revolution. From the transformation of tactical concepts to the rise of young players, from the redefinition of midfield roles to the reorganization of defense, every detail heralds the new future of this Galaxy battleship. The 3-1 victory over Pachuca is just the beginning, and the real test is still ahead, but from the current signs, Real Madrid is on the right path.