If you’ve watched even ten minutes of a Real Madrid match lately, you know the vibe. It’s chaotic. It's stressful. Honestly, it’s a bit of a mess. After the sudden departure of Xabi Alonso following that stinging Supercopa defeat to Barcelona, the Bernabéu has entered a weird, transitional era under Alvaro Arbeloa.
The "Spartan" is back. But he isn't playing it safe.
The Real Madrid current formation has shifted from Alonso’s structured, almost mechanical 3-4-3 back to a high-octane, somewhat reckless 4-3-3. It’s a move that has fans divided, especially after that humiliating 3-2 Copa del Rey exit to Albacete. Arbeloa is trying to bring back "Heavy Metal" football to Madrid, but with a squad held together by medical tape and prayers, the results are... well, they’re something.
The 4-3-3 is Back (But Not Like You Remember)
Arbeloa has basically binned the back-three experiments. He wants width. He wants intensity.
📖 Related: When Does Philadelphia Eagles Play: Everything You Need to Know
On paper, it’s a standard 4-3-3. In reality? It’s a vertical sprint. By pushing the wingers—usually Vinicius Jr. and Arda Güler—wider than Alonso ever did, Arbeloa is trying to create 1v1 nightmares for La Liga full-backs. The problem is that the defensive balance is currently non-existent.
With Antonio Rüdiger and Éder Militão both dealing with long-term knocks, the "protection" in this formation is coming from academy graduates. Seeing Dean Huijsen and Raúl Asencio start in a Champions League-caliber side feels surreal. Huijsen has the height and the ball-playing chops, but he’s 20. He makes 20-year-old mistakes. When the formation pushes both full-backs high, these kids are left on an island.
The Personnel Puzzle
- Thibaut Courtois: Still the only reason Madrid isn't mid-table right now. The guy is a human cheat code.
- The Full-back Chaos: Trent Alexander-Arnold was supposed to be the savior, but that thigh injury has kept him sidelined. Without him, we’re seeing Fede Valverde forced into right-back again. It's a waste of his engine, frankly.
- Alvaro Carreras: He’s been a bright spot at left-back. He’s basically being asked to play like Andy Robertson in Klopp’s old Liverpool system.
Jude Bellingham and the Midfield Identity Crisis
Let’s talk about Jude.
Under Alonso, Bellingham was often tucked into a more rigid role that seemed to stifle his "late-arrival-in-the-box" magic. There were even rumors—shouted down by Jude himself on social media—that he wasn't happy.
In the Real Madrid current formation, Arbeloa has given him the "Ancelotti License." He’s the most advanced of a midfield three, flanked by Valverde (when he’s not covering RB) and Aurélien Tchouaméni.
It’s supposed to be a "Gegenpressing" engine. When it works, they suffocate teams. When it doesn't? There’s a massive hole between the midfield and the inexperienced center-backs. Tchouaméni is being asked to cover an impossible amount of ground. He’s a shield, but he isn't a miracle worker.
You've probably noticed that the team looks tired by the 70th minute. That’s the price of this new high-intensity setup. They’re running more, but they aren't necessarily running smarter.
👉 See also: Week 6 Start'em Sit'em: Why You’re Probably Overthinking Your Lineup
The Mbappe-Vini Conflict: Solved or Just Ignored?
The elephant in the room is always the front three. With Rodrygo currently out, the spotlight is firmly on Kylian Mbappé and Vinicius Jr.
For months, people complained they were stepping on each other's toes. In the current 4-3-3, Arbeloa has pinned Vini to the left touchline and told Mbappé to stay central. It sounds simple. It should work.
But Mbappé is a wanderer. He drifts left because that's where the space is. This leaves the "9" position empty, and suddenly, Madrid is crossing balls into a box occupied only by ghosts. Arda Güler on the right is the X-factor here. He’s playing more like a playmaker than a traditional winger, tucking inside to let the right-back overlap. It gives the formation a lopsided look—extremely wide on the left, very congested on the right.
Why It’s Not Clicking Yet
- Injury Fatigue: You can't play "heavy metal" football with a depleted bench.
- Lack of a "Toni Kroos": There is still nobody to slow the game down. It's all 100mph, all the time.
- Center-back Inexperience: Asencio and Huijsen are promising, but they lack the "dark arts" of Rüdiger.
What Needs to Change Immediately
If Arbeloa wants to survive until the end of the season—or at least until Florentino Perez decides if he can lure Jurgen Klopp out of his "retirement"—he has to fix the defensive transition.
✨ Don't miss: La clasificación de la CONMEBOL al Mundial: Por qué estas Eliminatorias son las más salvajes del planeta
The Real Madrid current formation is too romantic. It assumes the attackers will always score four, so it doesn't matter if the defense concedes two. But against teams like Manchester City or even a disciplined Levante, that arrogance gets punished.
We might see a shift back to a 4-4-2 Diamond in big games. It would mean sacrificing Arda Güler for another body in midfield—likely Eduardo Camavinga once he's fully integrated back into the starting XI. A diamond would protect the young center-backs and give Bellingham that "Number 10" freedom he thrives on.
Practical Steps for the Next Month
Keep an eye on the Levante match this weekend. If Arbeloa sticks to the 4-3-3 with the kids at the back, expect a high-scoring game. For Madrid to actually find stability, they need to:
- Drop the defensive line: Stop trying to play a high trap with slow or inexperienced defenders.
- Release Camavinga: He is the only player with the technical skill to bypass a high press without hoofing the ball long.
- Force Mbappé to stay central: If he keeps drifting left, he’s just a very expensive obstacle for Vinicius.
The talent is there. The "Vibes" are... questionable. But in Madrid, the formation is usually just a suggestion anyway. It’s the individual moments of brilliance that usually save the day. Whether Arbeloa’s tactical overhaul survives the winter is anyone’s guess, but it certainly won't be boring.
Stay tuned to the team sheets for the Levante clash; that's where we'll see if the "Spartan" has learned his lesson or if he's going down swinging with his 4-3-3.