Xabi Alonso reacted after Real Madrid got hammered by rivals Atletico Madrid in the Madrid derby on Saturday. Los Blancos suffered their first loss of the 2025-26 campaign as Diego Simeone's side registered a convincing 5-2 derby win at the Metropolitano Stadium courtesy of a brace from star striker Julian Alvarez. Veteran star Antoine Griezmann was also on target for Atletico.
Alvarez stars in Atletico's derby triumph
Atletico took the lead through Robin Le Normand's 14th-minute goal before Kylian Mbappe restored parity. Arda Guler then put Madrid in front in the 36th minute, but they failed to hold on to the lead until the break as Alexander Serloth scored the equaliser at the stroke of half-time. Alvarez then joined the party as he scored two goals in quick succession at the start of the second half. Griezmann then took the goals tally to five with a strike in the 93rd minute.
AdvertisementAFPAlonso reacts to first loss of the season
Speaking to reporters after the game, Alonso said: "It was a bad game, we didn't play well either collectively or under pressure, we weren't at the level we should have been. We're in a building phase, today is our first defeat and we have to draw conclusions from what happened but there are no excuses, we're hurt, it's a derby and a deserved defeat. We weren't on our game, we were lacking a gear and the defeat hurts."
Carvajal suffers injury
Real Madrid dealt a fresh injury blow as Dani Carvajal suffered an injury and had to be subbed in the second half, as Eduardo Camavinga came in. Madrid are already dealing with an injury to new signing Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has been ruled out for at least two months and Carvajal's injury further increases Alonso's headache in the right-back role.
Getty Images SportBellingham started for the first time in this season
England star Jude Bellingham, who returned from a shoulder injury earlier this month, featured in Xabi Alonso's starting lineup for the first time in the 2025-26 campaign. He was on the pitch until the 70th minute when Rodrygo replaced him.