Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid have begun the new LaLiga campaign with an astonishing level of defensive authority, a hallmark of a team that is extremely well-organized and tactically disciplined. In just three league matches, Los Blancos have allowed their opponents to register only 17 shots in total. That statistic is not just impressive — it is extraordinary in the modern game where even weaker sides usually create more chances against top teams.
This defensive achievement places Alonso’s Madrid in historic company. The last time a team started a LaLiga season with such stinginess at the back was Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona in 2008, a side that is widely regarded as one of the greatest in football history. Guardiola’s team built its dominance on suffocating ball control and relentless pressing, leaving opponents unable to create opportunities. Now, Alonso’s Real Madrid are producing numbers that echo that legendary era, showing how quickly he has imposed his ideas on a squad full of talent and experience.
What makes this defensive record even more remarkable is the collective effort behind it. Alonso has designed a tactical structure where every single player has a defined role when out of possession. The midfield pivots drop deep to block passing lanes, the wide attackers work tirelessly to press and recover the ball, while the backline remains compact and disciplined, denying opponents the space to run into. This harmony across the pitch ensures that opposing forwards are often forced into rushed or low-quality shots — if they get a shot off at all.
Equally, Alonso’s philosophy isn’t just about sitting deep and defending numbers. Madrid’s defensive stability comes from controlling games intelligently, pressing high when necessary, and keeping possession to limit the opponent’s chances. By dictating the tempo and making teams chase the ball, Real Madrid not only frustrate their rivals but also conserve energy for devastating counterattacks. This balance of control and explosiveness is what has made them so hard to break down in the opening weeks of the season.
Although the campaign is still young, the early signs suggest that Real Madrid could be evolving into a side that combines the artistry of their attacking stars with an unshakable defensive wall. If they can maintain this level across the long season, Alonso’s men might not only challenge for the league title but also establish themselves as one of the most dominant defensive teams of the modern era. Comparisons with Guardiola’s Barcelona are lofty, but the numbers so far show that Real Madrid are on a path to building something equally special — perhaps even rewriting Spanish football history.
