Los Blancos suffer first loss of the season in fiery Madrid derby
Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso has conceded that his team fully deserved their heavy 5-2 defeat to city rivals Atletico Madrid in Saturday’s dramatic derby clash at the Metropolitano Stadium.
League leaders heading into the game, Madrid had enjoyed a perfect start to the campaign, winning all their matches before running into a relentless Atletico side that pressed hard, attacked with intensity, and punished their defensive lapses.
Speaking after the match, Alonso did not shy away from acknowledging his side’s shortcomings. “We didn’t play well as a team, or in pressing, we were not at the level that we should be,” he told reporters. “There are no excuses, we’re hurting, it’s a derby and a deserved defeat.”
The coach admitted that his players failed to match the combative spirit of Diego Simeone’s men, who seized control of the game early and never allowed Madrid to settle. “We lacked that intensity… we didn’t compete well enough today, not at the level that these games need,” Alonso said, stressing that Atletico’s approach overwhelmed his side.
While the loss stung, Alonso insisted that the setback must be seen in context. He reminded fans and players alike that this was their first defeat of the season, and that the team remains in a building phase. “We’re in a construction phase, today was our first loss, and we have to conclude what happened. We can’t forget what we were doing before, what we were doing well,” he explained.
For Alonso, the key lies in how his team responds in the coming fixtures. “We’re in a state of progress… how we react to this will be the important thing, in the next game, or when we face a strong opponent, like Atletico were today. We wouldn’t be smart if we were not capable of taking the positive out of the pain that we have today,” he added.
The result leaves Real Madrid with a sobering reminder that despite their strong start, lapses in intensity and teamwork can prove costly, especially in derby battles where pride, passion, and precision often decide the outcome.
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