Real Madrid's rude awakening: Kylian Mbappe's red-hot form has papered over the cracks for Xabi Alonso - he must find answers to Atletico humiliation or risk going trophyless

Some will tell you that they could have seen this coming. Madrid's first real test under Alonso, arguably, came earlier this summer. Whether Madrid truly needed to win the Club World Cup is up for debate. But they certainly approached the transfer window like they wanted to. 

A glut of new arrivals showed up in America for the tournament, and Alonso was the man tasked with piecing them all together - despite having less than two weeks as actual manager of the club.

They looked beleaguered in the group stage, and when it came down to the big names, they were miles off the pace. Madrid were battered by somehow-not-champions PSG in the semi-final, and, in truth, never appeared remotely capable of turning that result around. Alonso claimed after the game that the loss was the final match of the previous season, and by no means an indication as to how things might look going forward.

"At the moment, we need a proper break. This is not the beginning of next year, this is just the end of this season," he said after the defeat.

And there's some sense to that. Los Blancos endured a disastrous 2024-25 campaign. The Club World Cup felt like a bit of a wash. Sure, the loss stung, but it was perhaps a chance to refresh - not an indictment on the strength of the side. Well, so much for that idea...

Atleti are not as good as PSG, but they certainly exposed the same weaknesses in Madrid's team. 

The first, and most obvious problem that Alonso will repeatedly face here is the lack of balance in the side. For the first time this season, the manager started Mbappe, Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham together. It's a dangerous thing, trying to get all three into the same side. Say what you want about tactical adjustments and positional play, one fact is simple: the trio don't quite click together on either side of the ball.

Yes, there were some moments of individual magic, but when Los Blancos lost the ball, the results were calamitous. It was laughably easy to see how Atletico might attack. Mbappe doesn't like to run. Vinicius and Bellingham don't either. As soon as Los Rojiblancos counter, they are playing against eight, taking on a remarkably disorganised unit immediately. And although set-pieces proved to be their ultimate undoing, all of the moves started from direct vertical counters. 

It was a familiar story, the way Madrid have been attacked by opponents for 12 months now. Alonso simply fell into the same trap as his predecessor Carlo Ancelotti in the Italian's final year at the Santiago Bernabeu.

And that won't be easy to counter. In all likelihood, one of Bellingham or Vinicius will need to be benched - especially in the big games. Madrid's remedy to that - or, at least, their method for picking up results - is to lean on their stars. And in Mbappe, they have arguably the best forward in the world. 

The Frenchman has been in electric form to start the campaign. Alonso seems to have won him over somehow, encouraging him to play in a more central role, and simply getting better consistent showings out of the team's talisman. Against the lesser sides, that helped paper over some cracks. Madrid haven't been excellent to start the season, but Mbappe's penchant for finding the net has ensured that some of the shortcomings - and there are a fair few - haven't proven fatal. 

However, against a far more organised Atleti, he couldn't play hero-ball. Sure, he scored a wonderful goal - a clinical dart in behind and finish. But that alone could not save a Madrid team that actively struggled. 

Mbappe's reluctance to defend was also illustrated. Ancelotti, the great vibes guy who was able to lay down the law in a dressing room full of egos, could never solve that conundrum in the big games. Thus far, Alonso hasn't, either. That goal was lovely for the highlight reel. Substantively, though, it meant little.

The midfield could also do with some scrutiny here. Thus far, Alonso has stuck with a familiar formula: a trio of Federico Valverde, Aurelien Tchouameni, and one other (usually Arda Guler as a No.10). It has worked well enough. But against Atleti, who simply packed the middle of the pitch, it was underwhelming. 

There are a number of reasons why. A lot of them surround a certain Englishman who was regarded as a Ballon d'Or candidate not 12 months ago. 

Bellingham isn't lazy per se. But his work rate isn't excellent, either. He doesn't quite seem to know how to defend as a No.10. When the attackers don't press, Bellingham never knows when to run forward or drop deep. The result is a bit of lethargy, half-committed to defending. It leaves Madrid wide open. 

Furthermore, for all of his undoubted talent, Bellingham clearly doesn't like it when things don't go his way. Too often, he throws his arms in the air in frustration, or doesn't track back at all. Atleti took advantage of that ill-discipline. 

And then there is the form of Federico Valverde. Last year, he was immense, full of legs and providing some attacking quality, too. This year, he is still a willing runner, but looks a little slower. There were times, last season, where he could play two vs one. Not anymore.

There are other issues, too. The right-wing situation is fluid and unpredictable. Guler started on the right against Atleti, but didn't provide much defensively. He scored and assisted, but the game rather passed him by. He was kicked around, and although he showed the right intent, still looks a lot like a youngster still finding his feet a little.

The injury situation isn't kind, either. Trent Alexander-Arnold picked up a knock within the first five minutes of Madrid's first Champions League game, and might not be back until November. Dani Carvajal is now facing a spell on the sidelines, too, after pulling a muscle in the derby. It's easy to play amateur doctor, but it looked like it was caused by playing on for too long on Saturday.

Alonso also simply has to scrutinise his side's ability - or lack thereof - to defend set-pieces. Madrid were outdone by cross after cross Saturday, and despite having height at the back, they had no answer for Atleti's movement. Perhaps it's a communication problem. But it still needs to be figured out. Good thing set-piece coaches are en vogue...

What this all means is a little hard to identify. The fact of the matter is, Madrid are never going to be totally tested by many teams in La Liga. Whether it be a simple reluctance to attack them, or the aura brought about by the inevitability of an Mbappe goal, it does seem a bit of a fool's errand to try to play football against Alonso's side.

But there are some warning signs here. If Atleti can sit back, defend, and then hit on the break, surely others can, too. And when it comes to other big games - Champions League nights, El Clasico - then Madrid can, and will, be punished. 

And then, there is Tuesday evening. Their game against Kazakhstani side Kairat FC is being billed as the biggest mismatch in Champions League history. And that is certainly true. But Los Blancos have traveled 4,000 miles to face them. And coming off a 5-2 battering, what should be an exhibition match for backups feels a little more important than it normally would be. 

Marid are not going to lose. They are too good. But suddenly, every display is going to be dissected by a suddenly skeptical press. When the games get tough - and they will again - the onus will be on Alonso to come up with answers because he can ill-afford any more results as "bad" as Saturday's derby defeat.