Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso has said his side are heading into Sunday’s La Liga Clasico in far better shape after addressing the mistakes that led to their derby thrashing by Atletico Madrid.
Los Blancos endured a humiliating 5–2 defeat against their city rivals — their only loss in 12 matches across all competitions this season.
Alonso’s men currently sit two points clear of Barcelona at the top of the table as they prepare to host the reigning champions at the Santiago Bernabéu this weekend.
“Without a doubt, we’ve spent the past few weeks correcting things and improving,” Alonso told reporters on Saturday.
“We’re arriving at this match in a good moment — in terms of morale, football, and competitiveness. It’s a good time for us.”
Real Madrid were also hammered 4–0 by Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup semi-finals earlier this year, and the Clasico offers them another chance to show they can handle the biggest occasions.
“These are important matches, and I don’t like to judge solely by results but by the process,” Alonso explained.
“In these 12 games, we’ve grown. There’s still room to improve, but it’s only October turning into November. No trophies have been handed out yet, no medals won. There’s still a long way to go this season — but right now, all that matters is tomorrow. The Clasico is our only focus.”
Last season, Barcelona defeated Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid in both league Clasicos and triumphed again in the Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup finals.
“There could be similar situations in this match, and we’ve analysed them,” Alonso said. “But this is a different moment for both teams. Our project is new; we’re building and improving every day. Tomorrow, we’ll aim to showcase our strengths and deliver a strong performance.”
Alonso confirmed he has nearly a full squad available for the encounter, with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dani Carvajal, and Dean Huijsen all expected to return from injury.