Episode 127 - Atlético Beat Real Madrid: Xabi Alonso’s Derby Mistakes

On this episode of Transfer Flow, Patrick and Neel break down the Madrid Derby and explore where Xabi Alonso’s setup went wrong. From defensive struggles to vulnerabilities against crosses, we analyse exactly how Real Madrid was exposed and why their rivals capitalised. They also dive into the Premier League, looking at the relegation battle and discussing whether Sunderland are safe, how Villa can respond, and what Nuno can do to fix West Ham’s misaligned squad. Tottenham’s open play issues, Arsenal’s stylistic shift, and Liverpool’s shaky defence also get a tactical review. Whether you’re following La Liga, the Premier League, or just love in-depth football analysis, this episode gives you the insights and breakdowns you need. Subscribe to our FREE newsletter: https://www.thetransferflow.com/subscribe Join Variance Betting: https://www.thetransferflow.com/upgrade Follow us on our Socials: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe1WTKOt7byrELQcGRSzu1Q X: https://x.com/TheTransferFlow Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thetransferflow.bsky.social Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetransferflow/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@transferflowpodcast Timestamps: 00:00 Episode Intro 00:28 Neel Stepping in for Ted 01:07 Episode Intro Summary 01:24 Madrid Derby 02:07 Fun Facts about Atlético de Madrid 04:28 Real Madrid This Season 05:08 Possession Split vs Atlético de Madrid 05:42 Xabi Alonso Plan 06:56 Real Madrid Weaknesses 08:20 Jude Bellingham's Return 09:26 Team and tactic analysis 10:43 Real Madrid Struggling to Defend Crosses 13:03 Real Madrid vs. Opponents on Set Pieces 15:31 Jude Bellingham's Return and Long Term Impact for Real Madrid 17:00 No team looks Unstoppable in La Liga 17:08 Elche Game Analysis (Recap from Last Episode) 17:26 Frankfurt Game Analysis (Recap from Last Episode) 17:45 Bundesliga YouTube Highlight Package 18:43 Relegation battle 19:23 Leeds and Sunderland 20:13 Leeds Team Analysis and Progression Chances 23:26 Leeds, Burnley and Sunderland Defending Well 23:50 Sunderland Team Analysis and Progression Chances 27:20 Patrick's Thoughts on Burnley 28:44 Neel's Thoughts on Burnley 30:45 Aston Villa Analysis 30:54 Ollie Watkins Player Analysis 31:16 Aston Villa Poor Defence and Need for a Managerial Change 31:48 Thoughts on Why Aston Villa Playing Poorly and Need for Tactical Improvement 34:57 West Ham and Wolves 35:19 Nottingham Forest Analysis 37:42 West Ham 40:14 Can Wolves Find a Way Back? 42:00 Neel’s Thoughts on Wolves 43:35 Have Neel's Team Predictions Changed Now? 46:14 Patrick’s Thoughts on Nottingham Forest 48:26 Fulham Team Analysis 51:56 Fulham Needs a Wake-Up Call 52:45 Manchester United Team Analysis and Struggles 55:46 Spurs, Liverpool, Arsenal Recap 56:16 Analysing Spurs' Recent Performance 1:00:52 Liverpool’s Tactical Flexibility 1:06:10 Arsenal’s Defensive Strengths 1:06:58 The Balance of Defence and Attack 1:09:38 Closing Thoughts and Future Insights