Real Madrid‘s Statistical Dip Raises Questions About Early Season Form
MADRID – A concerning trend in key performance indicators is emerging for Real madrid following a recent defeat, suggesting a potential decline from teh team’s strong start to the season.While previously dominating in ball recovery and defensive pressure, statistics reveal a meaningful drop-off in recent matches, prompting manager Xabi Alonso to acknowledge the need for adjustments.
For the first seven games of the season, Real Madrid enjoyed a perfect record. However, a recent heavy defeat has exposed a worrying downturn in crucial areas of play. Alonso stated, “We have to draw conclusions for the future, this defeat will serve us.” Analysis by AS newspaper points to a marked decrease in pressure applied to opponents.
Perhaps most striking is the decline in ball recovery. Initially, Real Madrid led the major European leagues (Big Five) in recoveries. While still highly ranked, they have now fallen behind Athletic Bilbao (249 recoveries to Real Madrid’s 207).
Specifically, the team’s recovery numbers have plummeted. In the first three games, real Madrid averaged 37 ball recoveries per match, totaling 112, with a high of 45 against Oviedo. This average has as fallen dramatically to 23 recoveries per game over the last three matches, totaling just 69. The derby against Atletico Madrid saw a particularly low 22 recoveries.
The downturn extends to recovering possession after losing it. The average number of lost ball recoveries dropped from 36.2 in the first three games to 27.6 in the last three. Further illustrating the issue, Real Madrid managed onyl 3 defensive pressures during the derby, a stark contrast to their season average of 9.3. Defensive duel numbers also reflect this trend: 4 against Oviedo compared to an average of 11, and 30 in the derby versus a previous average of 45.
The severity of the statistical decline prompted Alonso to address the issues publicly. A response is anticipated in Tuesday’s match against Almaty, as real Madrid seeks to regain its early-season momentum and address these concerning trends.
