Fantastic Flop? Real Madrid’s Attack Faces Harsh Truth After UCL Exit

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Following their disgraceful 5-1 aggregate defeat to Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League, a gruelling post-mortem is expected, both from fans and especially from the media.

When Kylian Mbappe joined the Galacticos in 2024, expectations soared. The media quickly labelled the newly assembled frontline as “The Fantastic Four,” including Englishman Jude Bellingham. So, it wasn’t surprising when admiration turned into outrage and ridicule, as a star-studded Real Madrid side crashed out and missed the chance to lift their 16th Champions League trophy.

Dubbed “The Fantastic Failure”, the nickname may seem reactionary, a product of emotional disappointment. But was it truly exaggerated, or do the numbers tell us this feared attack is, ironically, quite toothless?

Take Vinicius Junior. He’s registered 16 g/a contributions in La Liga this season (11 goals and 5 assists). That’s almost identical to last season’s tally of 11 goals and 11 assists—a campaign that saw him finish on the Ballon d’Or podium. Statistically, he’s on track—perhaps even better—as the season progresses.

Predominantly playing from the right, Rodrygo Goes has improved his numbers, too. With 8 goals and 2 assists this season, he’s stepped up, especially in Vinicius’ absence and during Mbappe’s adaptation period. His brilliance in key wins over Las Palmas and Bilbao has been noteworthy.

So where’s the problem?

Kylian Mbappe, ironically, might be part of the answer.

Mbappe: A Star Misfiring in Madrid

Despite registering 31 goal contributions this season, there’s a growing belief among tacticians that Madrid’s front three haven’t clicked, because Mbappe, the marquee signing, is yet to fully adapt. After the Champions League exit, it was revealed he went five straight matches without a goal, for the first time since 2018.

Even earlier in the season, he cut a frustrated figure in the El Clasico defeat to Barcelona, despite entering the match in red-hot form. Madrid lost 4-0, and Mbappe looked completely out of place.

PSG’s all-time top scorer seems to be struggling, not with goals, but with positioning and purpose. It’s not just fans talking. After the 1-3 loss to AC Milan, France legend Thierry Henry offered a scathing but fair assessment:

“We’re not asking him to play like Didier Drogba, but he needs to put in the effort to run and create space.”

Mbappe, used to drifting in from the left, now finds himself centrally, where there’s no room to breathe before defenders swarm. On the wing, he has time to plan; in the middle, he must react instantly.

Tactically, Carlo Ancelotti has preached balance all season. His comments after the Milan game speak volumes:

“We lacked balance.”
“I am not happy with the draw because we could have done better. We needed more attitude.”
“We can learn a lot from this game because it’s clear where the problem is.”

Some believe that to regain that balance, one of the front three must be sacrificed.

After the Champions League exit, Thibaut Courtois also subtly called out the lack of a traditional striker:

“We give a lot of crosses, but this year we miss Joselu—a natural striker up front.”

On social media, fans echoed a similar sentiment, suggesting either Vinicius or Mbappe needs to embrace the ‘Benzema’ role, which involves sacrificing personal glory for the team’s tactical fluidity.

That sacrifice, however, comes with a cost: fewer goals, less spotlight, and more grunt work.

Also Read: What is Remontada in Soccer? What Does Remontada Mean?

Many believe Jude Bellingham could be the key to finding that balance. As Thierry Henry pointed out, Bellingham’s movements and awareness, especially during the Milan game, resembled that of a seasoned false nine more than Mbappe. Arsenal has succeeded in using profiles similar to those of Havertz and Merino in recent months.

Of course, benching any of Vinicius, Mbappe, or Rodrygo seems unthinkable after the level of investment and expectations. But if Madrid is to survive and succeed in the season’s final phase, someone has to take one for the team.

If not, Mbappe, despite the goals and glitz, could be the one warming the bench.

Babajide Oluwaseun

Babajide is a broadcast Journalist with over 10 years experience on radio in Nigeria. He is addicted to the English Premier league analysing tactics and team formation and when he is done, he is on his pad writing his next piece on football.

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