Real Madrid’s substitutes have contributed just one goal in LaLiga this season, underscoring Xabi Alonso’s reliance on his starting XI and the limited impact of the bench.
Real Madrid are experiencing a remarkable dip in their attacking performance this season in La Liga: only one goal has been scored by their substitute players in the entire Spanish championship. The figure reflects a worrying imbalance in the contribution from the bench, especially in a team accustomed to having plenty of resources to resolve matches from the bench.
Out of Los Blancos’ 32 league goals to date, 31 have been scored by starting players and only one has been scored by a player who started the match as a substitute. That goal was scored by Vinicius in matchday 2 against Real Oviedo, in the 93rd minute. This means that only 3.13% of total goals have been scored by players who did not start the match.
The comparison with other La Liga teams further highlights the imbalance. Levante, Getafe and Alaves, clubs with smaller budgets, also have one goal from substitutes, but maintain higher percentages: 6.25%, 7.69% and 8.13%, respectively. Far behind are the best records, led by Celta (38.89%), Espanyol (31.58%) and Girona and Rayo Vallecano (both with 30.77%).
In terms of assists, the situation is not much better. Only four goal-scoring opportunities have come from the Merengue bench: two from Brahim Diaz (against Oviedo and Villarreal), one from Arda Guler (against Getafe) and another from Vinicius in the match against Oviedo. The figures make it clear that Xabi Alonso’s substitutions have had little offensive impact.
The Basque coach has remained loyal to an almost unchangeable starting line-up since his arrival, with names such as Mbappe, Bellingham, Valverde and Camavinga becoming untouchable. This continuity, which has brought stability to the team’s performance, has minimised opportunities for players on the bench.
Real Madrid’s offensive dependence on Mbappe is evident: the Frenchman accounts for a large part of the team’s goals (16 in La Liga) and his influence extends to almost every phase of the game. In tight matches or when fatigue sets in, the lack of substitutes has limited the Whites’ ability to respond. While other teams find a source of goals and energy in their substitutes, Real Madrid continues to rely on its regulars to win matches.
