Xabi Alonso, head coach of Real Madrid, initially planned to start a forward line featuring Gonzalo and Kylian Mbappé. However, the injury absence of Trent Alexander-Arnold led Alonso to include Vinícius Júnior in the starting lineup instead. Alonso chose not to publicly discuss individual players Vinícius Júnior or Mbappé, focusing instead on issues related to playing attitudes, a challenge previously encountered by former coach Carlo Ancelotti. The team suffered a 4-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, prompting Alonso to address topics including Luka Modric, Lucas Vázquez, Rodrygo, and summer signings in his post-match comments.