Spanish media go in hard on Real Madrid with brutal reaction to Liverpool loss
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The Real Madrid players have faced harsh criticism from the Spanish press following their defeat to Liverpool in the Champions League. "Especially [Real Madrid], who had a lot of the ball but without decisiveness."Although players like Vinicius or Bellingham got into the game a lot with it, not so other more lethal ones like Mbappe who was missing during the first half."The outlet also awarded Trent Alexander-Arnold - who entered as a second-half substitute to a chorus of jeers - a one-star rating.
Spanish outlet Cadena SER targeted Bellingham in their analysis, criticising the England international alongside Mbappe for failing to contribute defensively: "Real Madrid has a problem with aerial balls."Despite having players like Eder Militao, Aurelien Tchouameni, and Dean Huijsen, they struggle to defend aerial balls because other players like Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe don't track back to cover them."Meanwhile, Sport placed the responsibility firmly on manager Xabi Alonso's shoulders, arguing the former Liverpool midfielder's tactical approach was flawed. "Real Madrid suffered from complacency, forgetting to press after the 20-minute mark and letting themselves be dictated by Arne Slot's tactics," they reported."And yes, the ultimate responsibility lies with those on the pitch, but the mistakes made in the mixed marking of a corner (Vinicius marking Van Dijk) or in the substitutions are and will be the responsibility of the coach - or his coaching staff, who, for the moment, have been unable to find the right formula for, for example, defending set pieces."The publication also highlighted Bradley's impressive performance in neutralising Vinicius throughout the match: "In La Liga, with Vinicius consistently leaving his markers a foot behind, he'll benefit.
However, if he encounters players like Bradley who can keep up with him, his advantage is minimised."The performance was arguably Liverpool's finest of the season to date - and one of Real Madrid's poorest. Following a convincing win over Aston Villa at the weekend and a solid triumph against Frankfurt last month, the Reds have now secured three wins from their last five games - an indication that their challenging period may finally be over.For Real Madrid, it's about regrouping - and a stark wake-up call that even the most in-form teams can be undone by intensity, discipline, and a squad with a point to prove.