After a Draw with Mallorca in the First Round, Spanish Media Worries About Real Madrid’s Gradual Transformation into “PSG”

Following a 1-1 draw with Mallorca in the first round, concerns about Real Madrid’s prospects for the new season continue to escalate among the media. Recently, the Spanish media outlet Relevo spoke up again, expressing their worry about seeing echoes of the old PSG emerging within Real Madrid.

After being held to a draw by Mallorca, Real Madrid’s performance faced criticism from all sides. While head coach Carlo Ancelotti did not overly focus on the match result, he acknowledged serious issues with the team’s attitude, commitment, and squad balance. The media is concerned that with Kroos’s departure and Mbappé’s arrival, the team’s dynamism could push Real Madrid towards a situation where attack and defense become increasingly intertwined, with the gap between them narrowing. After the first game, Valverde’s comment was the most representative, saying, “Real Madrid won’t turn into PSG.”

Real Madrid is also making great efforts to avoid becoming another PSG. At that time, PSG had Mbappé, Messi, and Neymar, with the tactic being that these three would handle the attacking duties in the front, while the rest of the squad focused on defensive efforts. A cautionary tale is how, after Makélélé left the Bernabéu, Real Madrid quickly fell apart.

Last season, there were reports that President Florentino Pérez hoped to see Mbappé, Vinicius, Rodrygo, and Bellingham wreak havoc in the front four, but Ancelotti was worried that such an approach could affect the defensive balance. This is not the first time Ancelotti has made a politically motivated decision at the start of a season.