Xabi Alonso praises Real Madrid’s collective 4-0 win vs Valencia

Dek: A ruthless first half set the tone at the Bernabéu as Mbappé (brace), Bellingham and Carreras sealed a 4-0 statement. Afterward, Xabi Alonso hailed the team’s unity and intensity.

Key Takeaways

• “Victory of the collective” — Xabi Alonso credited energy, pressing and ball circulation for the win. [1]
• Scorers: Mbappé (19’ pen, 31’), Bellingham (44’), Álvaro Carreras (82’). [2][3]
• Top of LaLiga: Madrid widen their lead after Matchday 11. [2][4]
• Carreras’ first Madrid goal arrived via a thunderbolt into the top corner. [5]
• Vini Jr. missed a penalty, but Madrid’s control never wavered. [2]

Match Essentials

Final: Real Madrid 4–0 Valencia CF
Competition: LaLiga EA Sports (MD11)
Date: Saturday, 1 November 2025 (20:00 CET)
Venue: Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid
Referee: Mateo Busquets Ferrer
Attendance: 74,796 [2]

Scorers:

• 1–0: Kylian Mbappé (pen) 19’
• 2–0: Kylian Mbappé 31’
• 3–0: Jude Bellingham 44’
• 4–0: Álvaro Carreras 82’ [2][3]

Key Stats (ESPN): Possession 65–35; Shots 21–4; On Target 11–1; Corners 7–1. [2]

Real Madrid XI (4-3-3): Courtois; Carreras, Huijsen, Militão, Valverde; Bellingham, Tchouaméni, Güler; Vinícius Júnior, Mbappé, Mastantuono. Subs: Camavinga, Ceballos, Endrick, Rodrygo, Asencio, Fran García, Ferland Mendy, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Brahim Díaz, Gonzalo García, Fran González, Sergio Mestre. [2]

Valencia XI (4-4-2): (per match report) as listed on LaLiga/ESPN pages. [2][3]

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Article Body

Real Madrid didn’t just beat Valencia — they set the tone early and never took their foot off the gas. A ferocious first half at the Bernabéu delivered three goals and effectively parked the points before the interval. Kylian Mbappé’s double, Jude Bellingham’s laser from range and a late Álvaro Carreras rocket underlined the gulf in quality on the night and cemented Madrid’s grip on LaLiga’s summit. [2][4]

After the 4–0 win, Xabi Alonso framed it as a triumph of the group. He praised the team’s energy, quick circulation and sharp counter-press, highlighting how Madrid looked intent on extending a positive run “from the first whistle.” The message: the structure is serving the stars, and the stars are buying into the structure. [1]

The opener arrived on 19 minutes from the spot. A handball flagged by VAR gave Mbappé the chance from 12 yards, and he sent the keeper the wrong way. The second, 12 minutes later, was vintage Mbappé — explosive movement to attack the box and a composed volleyed finish. By the time Bellingham arrowed in Madrid’s third just before the break, the Bernabéu was purring. [2][3]

Context matters. Madrid entered the weekend already top, and this victory widened the gap. The clean sheet and controlled second half suggested a team managing resources wisely ahead of midweek European duties. Reuters summed it up: Madrid are turning strong performances into separation at the top. [2]

The fourth goal might be the night’s most heartening subplot: Álvaro Carreras’ first goal as a Madrid player, a fizzing strike into the top corner in front of a delighted South Stand. For a defender known primarily for his engine and 1v1 timing, it was a headline moment and a confidence injection heading into a busy period. [5]

Valencia threatened only sporadically and hit the woodwork late, but Madrid’s rest defense and pressing traps kept the visitors at arm’s length. With Aurélien Tchouaméni anchoring transitions and Bellingham stepping into passing lanes, counter-press triggers repeatedly won the ball back within seconds — a detail Alonso spotlighted post-match when crediting the team’s collective work. [1][2]

Another thread: accountability and mentality. Vinícius Júnior didn’t bury his penalty on a night when nearly everything else came off, yet the team’s reaction was immediate control rather than frustration. Madrid continued to overload the half-spaces, rotate midfield positions and probe for the fourth without losing compactness behind the ball. [2]

This result also reinforces the hierarchy among the front line. Mbappé’s brace takes him to 13 league goals (18 in all competitions) by early November — numbers that mirror his ruthless shot selection and timing of runs. Bellingham’s strike continues his habit of popping up from the second line to decide games. And younger pieces, from Arda Güler’s creative touches to Franco Mastantuono’s minutes, hint at depth being carefully integrated. [2]

Looking outward, the table now reflects Madrid’s performance level: best attack, a defense conceding little, and a home record that’s spotless across competitions. The Bernabéu aura is back — seven wins in seven at home this season — and the side’s mix of star power and system discipline is becoming a weekly theme. [5]

Finally, Alonso’s messaging is consistent: praise for the collective, clarity on principles, and a refusal to indulge in complacency. With tougher tests ahead, that balance will determine whether Madrid’s November momentum becomes a spring platform. For now, it’s a statement win that matches the scoreline.

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FAQs

References

[1] L’Équipe: “Xabi Alonso salue la ‘victoire collective’…”, published Nov 2, 2025. L’Équipe
[2] Reuters: “Mbappé double helps Real Madrid cruise past Valencia…” Nov 1, 2025. Reuters
[3] LaLiga.com: Real Madrid vs Valencia match center (MD11). Página web oficial de LALIGA | LALIGA
[4] Al Jazeera: “Mbappé, Real Madrid crush Valencia…” Nov 2, 2025. Al Jazeera
[5] RealMadrid.com: Official match report: “Goal fest at the Bernabéu.” Real Madrid CF | Web Oficial