Real Madrid: A Solid Finish Amidst Uncertainty for 2026

Real Madrid wrapped up the calendar year of 2025 with a commanding 2-0 victory over Sevilla at the Santiago Bernabéu, marking their third consecutive win. Despite the positive result, lingering questions surrounding the team’s performances and head coach Xabi Alonso‘s future loom large as they head into the new year.

The match against Sevilla showcased a clash of tactical approaches. Early on, Sevilla appeared to have the upper hand in expected threat (xT), registering 1.51 compared to Real Madrid’s 0.81 within the first quarter of an hour. Their compact formation and pressing strategy posed challenges for the hosts. However, as the match progressed, Real Madrid began to assert their dominance, pushing their cumulative xT to 2.81 against Sevilla’s 1.71 by the half-hour mark. They recorded 40 touches in the final third, significantly outpacing Sevilla’s 30.

Shifting Momentum

By the 60-minute mark, Real Madrid had increased their cumulative xT to 4.70 while Sevilla managed only 3.51. The hosts enjoyed a total of 83 final third touches compared to Sevilla’s 66. In a tense final quarter, Madrid’s xT rose from 5.05 to 5.51, while Sevilla climbed from 4.26 to 5.36, indicating a late push from both sides. Ultimately, Madrid’s final third touch count finished at an impressive 150 compared to Sevilla’s 101.

Player Performances

Rodrygo was instrumental in the victory, leading all players with an xT gain of 1.649, providing six key passes and making nine ball recoveries throughout the match. He also showcased his versatility with a commendable performance defensively. Dean Huijsen topped the touch count with an impressive 104 touches and led in progressive passes with 17, maintaining a passing accuracy of 90.9%. Meanwhile, Vinícius Júnior demonstrated his attacking prowess with eleven progressive carries and five successful take-ons.

Jude Bellingham continued his strong form by completing an astonishing 92.9% of his passes and contributing three key passes alongside significant activity in the final third with 66 touches. Aurélien Tchouaméni also made his presence felt with 78 touches and several progressive plays that kept Sevilla on their toes.

On the other side, Gabriel Suazo stood out for Sevilla with an xT gain of 1.340 and a solid passing accuracy of 90.6%. Despite their struggles, Lucien Agoume contributed significantly with seven progressive passes.

In terms of overall play, Real Madrid dominated possession in their opponent’s half with a total of 357 touches compared to Sevilla’s mere 202. They executed an impressive 271 passes at an accuracy rate of 89.1%, while Sevilla managed only 158 at an accuracy of 86.7%. With a staggering number of carries into the final third—17 compared to Sevilla’s eight—Madrid clearly dictated the pace and flow of the game.

The victory leaves Real Madrid looking forward to their next fixture against Real Betis on January 4th as they aim to build on this momentum amidst ongoing speculation about their coach’s future.