Managing Madrid
Dominating European football since March 6th 1902
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The art of the cross returns to the Bernabéu
Real Madrid’s resurgence is driven by an unexpected cross revolution, led by Turkish midfielder Arda Güler. Güler tops La Liga with 17 successful crosses at a 53.1% rate—far above the league average and double the historic best of Toni Kroos. Madrid now ranks fourth in La Liga for successful crosses (4.2 per match) and boasts a 27.3% accuracy, the highest in 11 seasons. Alongside Güler, Trent Alexander‑Arnold (nine crosses) and Yan Diomandé (seven) account for 87% of Madrid’s crossing success, while stars Vinícius Jr. and Kylian Mbappé struggle with single‑digit rates. Mourinho’s tactical shift to wider positions highlights this trend, setting up a potential cross‑heavy advantage for Madrid in upcoming fixtures like El Clásico.
Real Madrid announce squad for Champions League match against Red Bull Leipzig
Real Madrid reveal their 23-man squad for Wednesday’s Champions League tie against Red Bull Leipzig at the Bernabéu. Goalkeepers Courtois, Lunin and Mestre guard the net, while defenders include Militão, Huijsen, Trent, Konaté, Cucurella, Á. Carreras, Rüdiger and Dumfries. Midfield options feature Bellingham, Camavinga, Valverde, Tchouameni, Arda Güler, Bernardo and Thiago; the attack lists Vini Jr., Endrick, Mbappé, C. Espí, Brahim and Yan Diomande. Vinicius returns to the starting XI, though Mourinho may rotate ahead of Sunday’s El Clásico. Match kicks off 21:00 CET (03:00 PM EST) on 10/21/2026, streamed via Paramount+, DAZN and Amazon Prime Video in the US.
DAILY THREAD | Oct 20, 2026
Real Madrid's Brazilian forwards Endrick (#09) and Vinícius Júnior (#07) train ahead of their UEFA Champions League Group Stage third‑match against RB Leipzig on October 20, 2026 at the Ciudad Real Madrid facility. The post includes several recent José Mourinho quotes on line‑ups, with Vinícius slated for the left wing, uncertainty over Yan, and tactical musings about Mbappé, Espi, Arda and Fede. Fans are reminded the Daily Merengue offers open, biased discussion of all things Madrid.
Konaté: “If we beat Leipzig, we’ll play better in El Clásico”
Real Madrid centre‑back Ibrahima Konaté tells the media ahead of Thursday’s Champions League clash with his former side RB Leipzig that a win is crucial for Real’s confidence heading into the upcoming El Clásico. He stresses staying focused on Leipzig, aims to keep Madrid in the top eight, and reflects on his early months at the club, the controversial Ceuta shirt incident, and the broader Negreira affair. Konaté also praises teammate Yan Diomande, calls himself an optimistic defender, and notes the influence of French compatriots like Tchouaméni and Mbappé.
Mourinho: “Fede and Arda’s best positions? On the pitch”
Ahead of Real Madrid’s Champions League clash with RB Leipzig, José Mourinho says the best position for Fede Valverde and Arda Güler is simply on the pitch, praising their versatility. He stresses match‑by‑match tactical tweaks, recalling a Rome game where creative freedom cost them. Mourinho warns against underestimating Leipzig, highlights the tough referee Kovács, and clarifies that Real’s immediate goal is to secure qualification points, avoid play‑offs, and then aim for a top‑eight finish. He also shares a light note on player life at Valdebebas.
Refereeing Committee about Güler’s case: “Absent evidence, no intervention is possible”
The Spanish Refereeing Committee (CTA) explained to MARCA why Real Madrid’s Arda Güler escaped a red card in Sunday’s 2-1 win over Sevilla. The incident occurred off‑the‑ball behind the referee, and none of the VAR‑eligible cameras captured a clear view—only wide shots showed ambiguous contact. Without concrete evidence, officials could not intervene, and the on‑field decision stood. Sevilla coach Luís García criticised the non‑call, but no replay definitively showed foul play worthy of a dismissal.
SCOUTING RB LEIPZIG: The chances conceded explain their uneven start
RB Leipzig’s first six Bundesliga games under Martín Demichelis showcase a potent attack but a leaky defence, explaining their erratic start. The side scores 16 non‑penalty goals – second only to one rival – and creates 12.5 npxG (fourth‑best), yet concedes 9.9 npxG (eighth‑lowest) and has led just 248 of 582 minutes. Christopher Nkunku leads with four goals from 2.5 npxG, while Ezechiel Banzuzi and centre‑back Willi Orbán add value despite limited goals. Leipzig average 17.8 shots per game from 16.3 m, rank fourth in passes (424 per match), and hold a modest territorial edge. Their 4‑3‑3 system yields high expected threat but inconsistent results.
Five Bullet Points From Real Madrid’s Win Over Sevilla
Real Madrid edged Sevilla 2-1 on October 18, 2026, with Kylian Mbappé delivering his most assured performance of the season. The blog highlights five key takeaways: the team's composure against Sevilla’s late press, Arda Güler’s fluid debut in a double‑pivot role, Yan Diomande’s raw wing‑back impact reminiscent of 2019 Vinícius Jr., the surprising reliance on Fede Valverde over healthy right‑backs Trent Alexander‑Arnold and Denzel Dumfries, and Mourinho’s tactical rigidity in a 4‑2‑3‑1. The author also notes Mbappé’s rise when Vinícius was off, and warns that defensive lapses from Güler need tightening. A 51‑minute post‑game podcast expands on these points.
Referee named for Champions League match between Real Madrid and Red Bull Leipzig
UEFA has named Romanian referee István Kovács to control Real Madrid’s Champions League clash with Red Bull Leipzig on Wednesday at 9 pm CEST in the Santiago Bernabéu. This will be Kovács’s sixth appointment involving Real, after officiating high‑profile ties against Liverpool, Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund in recent seasons. The match will be broadcast on Orange TV and Movistar Liga de Campeones.
Daily Thread: 19 Oct. 2026
Real Madrid defeat Sevilla 2-0 at the Santiago Bernabéu on October 18, 2026, with French forward Kylian Mbappé (wearing #10) netting the second goal and celebrating with teammates. The Daily Merengue thread invites fans to discuss the match and broader Real Madrid topics, acknowledging the moderators who keep the community lively.
Cucurella: “We cannot relax for a minute”
After Real Madrid’s 4-1 La Liga triumph over Sevilla, left‑back Marc Cucurella praised the team’s control, quick attacks and solid 90 minutes. He celebrated Eder Militao’s return from injury, highlighting his influence on the squad and noting the gradual recovery of other injured players. Looking ahead, Cucurella stresses the importance of a home win against Leipzig in the Champions League, calling the competition special and urging the team to secure three points for a vital boost in the long season.
Player Ratings: Real Madrid 4–1 Sevilla
Real Madrid cruise to a 4–1 La Liga win over Sevilla at the Bernabéu, with standout performances from Arda Güler (9) who scored a spectacular goal and delivered an assist, and Yan Diomande (8.5) who added a brilliant goal and another assist. Kylian Mbappé earns an 8 after a brilliant strike and explosive dribbling, despite a turnover that led to Sevilla’s lone goal. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois scores an 8 with four saves, while Dean Huijsen (8) and Fede Valverde (7.5) shore up the midfield. The ratings detail contributions across the squad, highlighting the team's dominant display on October 18, 2026.
THE SET-PIECES: Real Madrid 4-1 Sevilla
Real Madrid cruise to a 4-1 LaLiga victory over Sevilla at the Bernabeu on October 18, 2026, with Kylian Mbappe converting a penalty as the only set-piece goal. Both teams struggle from dead‑ball situations: Sevilla generate six attacking restarts (three freebies, two corners, a throw) but produce just two low‑xG shots, while Madrid’s seven restarts yield a single off‑target chance from Arda Güler’s corner. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois claims two crucial aerial duels, and the match’s set‑piece npxG totals sit at 0.07 for Sevilla and 0.03 for Madrid.
TOP 10 PLAYERS: Real Madrid 4-1 Sevilla
Real Madrid dominate Sevilla 4-1 in LaLiga EA Sports 2026/27, with Yan Diomande starring as right winger. Diomande registers 11 progressive carries, 35 final‑third touches and scores the final goal after assisting Arda Güler’s opener. Dean Huijsen tops touches with 105 and leads the field with 19 progressive passes at a 96.8% accuracy rate. Güler adds three key passes and a high long‑ball completion rate (84.6%). Sevilla’s Gabriel Suazo contributes six progressive carries, while Youssouf Fofana posts the highest xT (0.283) from open‑play passes. The match took place on October 18, 2026, at Estadio La Cartuja.
Jose Mourinho: “Valverde is one of the most versatile players in football”
After Real Madrid's 4-1 La Liga victory over Sevilla on October 18, 2026, manager Jose Mourinho praised midfielder Fede Valverde, calling him "one of the most versatile players in football" and highlighting his attacking full‑back performance. Mourinho also touched on squad rotation, noting the difficulty of benching quality full‑backs, and discussed the upcoming Champions League match and the Clasico. He addressed Luis Garcia’s controversy claims, offered thoughts on young defender Yan Diomande’s development, and reaffirmed confidence in Vinícius Jr. for Wednesday’s European tie.
Immediate Reaction: Real Madrid 4-1 Sevilla
Real Madrid thrash Sevilla 4-1 at the Bernabéu in LaLiga EA Sports 2026/27. Arda Güler opens the scoring after 30 minutes, followed by Kylian Mbappé’s brace (one from open play, one penalty). Yan Diomande adds a late strike, assisted by Aurélien Tchouaméni, while Sevilla’s lone goal proves insufficient. The match marks the first game of the Vinícius Júnior suspension, with Endrick starting and Fede Valverde captaining. Highlights include strong midfield verticality from Güler and Huijsen, and a solid defensive performance. Player ratings, interview excerpts, and a podcast are linked for deeper analysis.
CONFIRMED lineups: Real Madrid vs Sevilla, 2026 La Liga
Real Madrid have published their starting lineup ahead of Sunday’s match against Sevilla in La Liga. This is a crucial game for Los Blancos, who need to win the three points tonight and still try to at least get a draw when they visit Barcelona next weekend. PREDICTED LINEUPS Real Madrid starting XI: Courtois, Valverde, […]
Real Madrid vs Sevilla, 2026 live stream: Time, TV channels and how to watch La Liga online
Real Madrid host Sevilla and this is yet another must-win for Los Blancos after Barcelona dismantled Betis in their last game ahead of the decisive El Clásico. Neither one of Real Madrid’s last two games after the FIFA break were encouraging but fans will be hoping to see coach José Mourinho making some necessary changes […]
ANALYSIS: Real Madrid Came Close to Paying the Price of Mourinho’s Approach Against Gasperini’s Man-Marking System
Teams have become more reliant on man-marking high presses, and Gian Piero Gasperini is one of the leading advocates of such an approach. Many teams have found and implemented different solutions based on the personnel available and the coaches’ ideas and styles. Relying on long balls and turning the game into a battle of duels […]
Daily Thread: 18 Oct. 2026
Welcome to The Daily Merengue — a place where you can feel free to discuss all things football. Do not be alarmed by the overt RMCF bias. It’s in the name! Shoutout to the Mods who do a fantastic job, Valyrian Steel, Ezek XI, KungFuZizou, NeRObutBlanco, Felipejack, and Juninho. Match Day Onto Sevilla. It’s another day in […]
Five Bullet Points From Real Madrid’s Win Over Roma
These observations — where I look at Real Madrid’s history, its players on loan, Castilla, tactical tidbits, and other relevant thoughts — are now a regular thing. All previous editions can be found here. Here is a new thing I’m committing to this season: Five semi-informal bullet points after each game. Also, check out the post-game podcast […]
Scouting Sevilla: Luis García’s team presses harder than most and gets the ball forward fast, but after eight matches the numbers sit firmly in mid-table
Sevilla have played eight league matches this season under Luis García, winning four, drawing two, and losing two. They have scored 13 goals, two of them penalties, and conceded 12. They created 8.5 non-penalty expected goals (npxG), 1.06 per match, the 12th most in La Liga. Their 11 non-penalty goals put them 2.5 above what […]
Real Madrid vs Sevilla, 2026 La Liga: Predicted lineups
Real Madrid host Sevilla in what will be the last La Liga game ahead of next weekend’s El Clásico. Eder Militao is back on the team’s list but should not be expected to play, while this will be the first match of Vinicius’ four-game suspension. PREDICTED LINEUPS Real Madrid predicted XI: Courtois, Alexander-Arnold, Huijsen, Konaté, […]
OPPONENT WATCH: RB Leipzig suffer 6-1 meltdown vs Bayern Munich ahead of Real Madrid clash
Until now, RB Leipzig under new head coach Martín Demichelis, have been up and down, but mostly encouraging. They’ve had 6-0 wins twice (against Eintracht Trier and Eintracht Frankfurt respectively), a 5-0 win over Hamburg, and a 3 – 0 win over Borussia Mönchengladbach. But they’ve also come up short in big tests. They lost […]
Real Madrid announce squad for La Liga match against Sevilla
Real Madrid have published their squad list for Sunday’s match against Sevilla in La Liga. REAL MADRID SQUAD LIST:Goalkeepers: Courtois, Lunin, and Javi Navarro.Defenders: Militão, Huijsen, Trent, Konaté, Cucurella, Á. Carreras, Rüdiger, and Dumfries.Midfielders: Bellingham, Camavinga, Valverde, Tchouameni, Arda Güler, Bernardo, and Thiago.Forwards: Endrick, Mbappé, C. Espí, Brahim, and Yan Diomande. Militao is back after recovering […]
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