Alonso says Mbappe needs more support as Madrid look for goalscoring solutions

Xabi Alonso knows Real Madrid cannot afford to put all the goalscoring responsibility on Kylian Mbappe, as they prepare to visit Elche.

Madrid went into the international break three points clear of Barcelona at the top of LaLiga, though they were held to a goalless draw by Rayo Vallecano last time out.

Los Blancos were also beaten 1-0 by Liverpool in the Champions League earlier in the same week, leading to criticism of their attacking play.

Madrid have scored 26 goals in LaLiga this season, which is six fewer than Barca, and half of those have come via Mbappe (13). 

Only Erling Haaland, with 14 Premier League goals, has outscored the Frenchman in one of Europe's top five divisions this season.

Mbappe is expected to be fit for Sunday's game after missing France's 3-1 win over Azerbaijan in World Cup qualifying with a minor ankle injury.

Alonso told reporters on Saturday: "After every match, we analyse it. We didn't manage to score against Liverpool or Vallecano. 

"It's not just down to Mbappe, it's down to the team. When we don't score, we have to look for alternatives that don't just involve the striker. 

"That could be the wingers from the second line or from set-pieces. The goals will come, I have no doubt about that."

Alonso was also asked about Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has only made five appearances – and two starts – in LaLiga since arriving from Liverpool on a free transfer.

The former Bayer Leverkusen coach said the two-week break had given Alexander-Arnold a chance to build his fitness but noted there were several other players competing to start at right-back.

"We've used this break with Trent to train more and get him back to full fitness after his injuries," Alonso said.

"[Federico] Valverde can still play there, but having Trent in better shape gives us more options in that position. 

"It's not just him, there are other options, such as Eder Militao, who played there the other day with his national team, or Raul Asencio."

Madrid's opponents Elche are 11th in the table with 15 points from 12 matches, having drawn 1-1 with Real Sociedad prior to the break.

PLAYERS TO WATCH 

Elche – Rafa Mir 

Despite hitting the woodwork five times in LaLiga this season, the joint most of any player, level with Barcelona's Ferran Torres), Mir has already scored four goals in 12 games.

That is one more than he managed in his previous two top-flight campaigns combined (three in 35 games).

Real Madrid – Kylian Mbappe

Mbappe is expected to be fit after leaving the France camp early. 

He is only the second Madrid player to reach 13 goals in the first 12 matches of a LaLiga campaign this century. Cristiano Ronaldo achieved the feat in four separate campaigns (14 in 2010-11, 14 in 2011-12, 13 in 2013-14 and 20 in 2014-15).

MATCH PREDICTION: REAL MADRID WIN

Elche are without a win in their last 14 LaLiga matches against Real Madrid (D2 L12), a run that dates back to a 3-1 victory in March 1978. 

This is their second-longest winless run against a single opponent in their top-flight history, having gone 22 games without beating Barcelona between 1975 and 2025 (D4 L18).

Elche have also conceded at least one goal in each of their last 20 meetings with Madrid in LaLiga (55 goals in total), their longest run without a clean sheet against a single opponent in their entire top-flight history.

Real Madrid have collected points in each of their last seven away games against Elche in LaLiga (W6 D1), the best unbeaten run away from home against them in the competition.

Elche coach Eder Sarabia will face Madrid in LaLiga for the first time, with only one of the last 15 coaches to face them for the first time in the competition securing a victory (D3 L11) – that was Hansi Flick with Barcelona, in a 4-0 win in October 2024.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Elche – 14.5% 

Real Madrid – 66.4%

Draw – 19.1%