If Real Madrid were playing a final tomorrow, the biggest uncertainty in Xabi Alonso's starting XI would be the third member of the attacking trio. The coach still hasn’t found the ideal partner for Vinicius and Mbappé, the only two guaranteed starters in the forward line. The right wing remains the unresolved piece in a hypothetical best lineup. With Rodrygo no longer in the equation, that side has become an open battle. No player has truly claimed the spot, and Xabi continues to explore options. The lack of a clear starter has turned the right flank into a laboratory — a testing ground for both players and tactical systems — as the coach keeps searching for the right formula.

The uncertainty is evident in the numbers. After 16 matches this season, the most frequently used trident has been the one featuring Mastantuono, and even then, it has only appeared five times. Brahim completed the trio four times, and Bellingham did so on three occasions. In the remaining matches, Vinicius did not start, and Rodrygo was used on the left. Notably, Xabi Alonso has not fielded Rodrygo on the right at any point, nor has he tested Gonzalo Fernández there, despite trying him in that role in the Club World Cup match against PSG.

This instability is also reflected in the output of the players who have rotated through the right wing. Between Bellingham, Brahim, and Mastantuono, the combined return stands at five goals and three assists: Bellingham with three goals and one assist, Brahim with one goal and two assists, and Mastantuono with one goal. A contribution far below what is expected from the attacking partner of Vinicius and Mbappé.

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