Real Madrid penalty shootout challenges test Xabi Alonso’s tactics
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Real Madrid penalty shootout challenges are once again in the spotlight as the club gears up for the new LaLiga season. With the campaign kicking off on August 19 against Osasuna, questions swirl around who will step up as the primary penalty taker. Fans and analysts alike wonder: can Mbappé finally establish himself as a reliable figure from the spot? For those looking to sharpen their bets and expectations, our expert LaLiga Predictions offer valuable insights into the season’s unfolding drama.
- Real Madrid recorded one of Europe’s worst penalty conversion rates last season.
- Mbappé is set to be the main penalty taker but carries recent misses in key games.
- Xabi Alonso faces a critical question: who will confidently take penalties this season?
- Previous seasons saw Real Madrid miss over a third of their penalties, raising alarm bells.
Last season was tough on Real Madrid’s penalty record. Out of 19 penalties earned, the team missed more than a third: a startling rate for one of Europe’s top clubs. The misses weren’t isolated; Mbappé faltered three times, Vinicius twice, and even key midfielders like Bellingham and Valverde found the net elusive from 12 yards. The most recent misfires happened at crucial moments, like Mbappé’s miss against Real Sociedad and Valverde’s in the FIFA Club World Cup. These blips exposed a deeper issue: the absence of a confident, go-to penalty taker.
That dilemma now lands squarely on Xabi Alonso’s shoulders. The former Leverkusen coach has dealt with similar penalty woes before, notably during his Bundesliga stint where his team also struggled from the spot. Alonso’s challenge is to restore confidence and clarity in penalty duties at Real Madrid. Mbappé is the logical choice, after all, he finished last season with 44 goals, clinching the Pichichi and the Golden Boot. Yet, his penalty track record isn’t flawless, with a conversion rate just under 80%, peppered by some high-profile misses. Vinicius trails behind with even shakier stats, casting doubts on who truly should wear the captain’s hat for penalty duties.
Pressure is mounting, and with the new season around the corner, Real Madrid needs to find stability in one of football’s most nerve-wracking moments. Can Mbappé shake off the penalty ghosts that haunted him at Anfield and San Mamés? Will Xabi Alonso find the right formula to instill confidence across the squad? The stakes couldn’t be higher, especially when every point counts in LaLiga’s tight race. It’s hard to say how this will end, but one thing’s certain: the penalty box is shaping up as a battleground where Real Madrid’s fate might be decided.
Still, if the past seasons teach us anything, Real Madrid penalty shootout challenges won’t be solved overnight. With the pressure on the French superstar and other candidates waiting in the wings, this season could either mark a turning point or deepen the club’s spot-kick struggles. Fans watching closely will want to keep our LaLiga Predictions handy as these storylines unfold across the campaign.
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