Real Madrid entered this international break with the frustration of two poor results against Liverpool and Rayo. Xabi Alonso is already focused on reversing the situation in the next stretch of the season, which runs from Sunday until the Christmas break.

The coach from Tolosa divides the season into blocks to set short-term goals. Early in the campaign, the international breaks naturally define these blocks. Later, starting in 2026, the schedule will tighten with almost no rest until March.

What concerns Xabi now are the nine matches before Christmas. His goals are clear: keep or extend the lead in La Liga, secure a Top-8 spot in the Champions League, and begin the Copa del Rey with a solid performance against a lower-division opponent.

It will be a demanding run. Madrid will play nine matches in 28 or 29 days, essentially one game every three days. Six of those matches are away from home, including difficult trips to Piraeus and San Mamés, plus a Copa del Rey tie on a smaller ground. The team will close this stretch at home against Sevilla around December 20 or 21. Xabi hopes to reach that date with his squad in a strong position to fight for every trophy in 2026.

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