It is January 2026, and if you're looking at the current Real Madrid formation, you might be scratching your head. Honestly, it’s a bit of a mess. But in that classic, "how did they just win that?" Madrid way, it’s a mess that somehow functions—mostly because the talent level is just absurd.
Right now, the team is in a weird transition. Xabi Alonso is the man in the dugout after the mid-season departure of a club legend, and he’s inherited a squad that is basically a collection of the world's best Ferraris with a few flat tires.
The biggest headline? Kylian Mbappé is currently sidelined with a knee injury. He's expected to be out for the rest of January. This has forced a massive tactical rethink. You can't just replace 20+ goals with a "next man up" mentality when that man is a global icon.
The Tactical Shift: Life Without Mbappé
So, how does the current Real Madrid formation actually look on the pitch today? Without Mbappé, Alonso has drifted away from the rigid 4-3-3 that many expected and moved toward a more fluid, almost "positionless" system.
Usually, we're seeing a hybrid 4-4-2 diamond or a 4-2-3-1, depending on whether Vinícius Júnior feels like hugging the touchline or drifting inside. With Mbappé out, the weight of the world is on Vini's shoulders. And he loves it.
In the recent shock 3-2 loss to Albacete—yeah, you read that right—Arbeloa (who stepped in briefly during the coaching shuffle) tried to make Vini the absolute focal point. Now under Alonso, the goal is to find balance.
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The Defensive Crisis
Madrid’s backline is currently a patchwork quilt.
Dani Carvajal? Out until late 2026 with a serious knee injury.
Eder Militão? Hamstring issues have him shelved for months.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, the big summer signing, is also out with a thigh problem until February.
Basically, the defense is held together by Antonio Rüdiger and young Raúl Asencio. It’s not ideal. You’ve got Álvaro Carreras and Fran García rotating at left-back because Ferland Mendy is—stop me if you've heard this before—injured again.
The Midfield Engine Room
This is where the current Real Madrid formation actually wins games. Even with the defensive chaos, the midfield is stacked.
- Jude Bellingham has moved back into a slightly deeper role. He’s not the "shadow striker" he was in 2024. He’s more of a box-to-box monster now, almost a hybrid 8 and 10.
- Federico Valverde is the lungs. He’s basically playing two positions at once—covering for the lack of a natural right-back while also charging into the box.
- Aurélien Tchouaméni sits as the anchor, though fans have been critical of his lateral speed lately.
- Eduardo Camavinga is the wild card. He’s been linked with Liverpool recently because he’s not a "guaranteed" starter every single week, but his ability to break lines is still world-class.
There's also Arda Güler. The kid is a magician. Alonso seems to trust him more than previous managers did, often slotting him into the "hole" behind the strikers to provide that final ball that was missing earlier in the season.
The "New" Attack
With Mbappé in the treatment room, Rodrygo has moved back to his preferred left-hand side or a central "false nine" role.
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Then there's the Argentine sensation Franco Mastantuono. He just turned 18 and officially joined the squad. He’s been playing on the right wing, cutting inside on that wicked left foot. It’s a lot of pressure for a teenager, but this is Madrid. You either sink or you become a legend by Tuesday.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Formation
People love to draw little diagrams with 11 dots and say "this is the system." For Real Madrid in 2026, that’s a lie.
The current Real Madrid formation is entirely based on "socio-affective" chemistry. That’s a fancy coaching word for "Vini and Rodrygo know where each other are without looking."
When they defend, it’s a compact 4-5-1. They don't press high like Manchester City. They wait. They lure you in. Then, Tchouaméni wins a tackle, pings it to Bellingham, and within four seconds, Vinícius is 1v1 with your goalkeeper. It’s devastatingly simple when it works and incredibly frustrating when it doesn't.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you're watching Los Blancos this month, keep an eye on these three specific tactical wrinkles:
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- The Right-Side Void: Watch how Valverde or even Rüdiger has to shift wide to cover the space left by the lack of a senior right-back. This is where teams like Barcelona and Atletico are currently hurting them.
- Bellingham’s Gravity: Notice how Jude drags two defenders with him every time he enters the final third. This is why players like Gonzalo García (the academy striker getting minutes) are suddenly finding space.
- The Transition Speed: Without Mbappé, the counter-attack is slightly slower but more lateral. They’re using the width of the pitch more than they did in the autumn.
The Bottom Line
The current Real Madrid formation is a work in progress. It’s a transition between the "Galactico 3.0" era and Xabi Alonso’s more structured, tactical philosophy.
They are second in La Liga, trailing Barcelona by four points. The injury list is a nightmare, but the depth is starting to show. Whether they can survive January without their French superstar will depend entirely on if the "midfield of the future" can finally become the "midfield of right now."
Expect a lot of rotation. Expect some ugly wins. And honestly, expect Arda Güler to become the name on everyone's lips by the time the Champions League knockouts roll around.
The next few weeks will define the season. If Alonso can stabilize the defense using the academy kids like Asencio, Madrid will be just fine. If not, it’s going to be a long, cold winter at the Bernabéu.
To stay ahead of the tactical curve, watch how Alonso utilizes Camavinga in the "inverted" role during the next home game; it’s the clearest sign of where this team is heading long-term.