Real Madrid runs down the clock in Athens despite Mbappé's four goals

1. Florentino Pérez calls Xabi Alonso
2. Difficulties in Piraeus against Olympiacos
3. Real Madrid's defensive performance
4. Key actions by Mbappé and Vinicius
5. Changes and injuries at Real Madrid
6. Real Madrid wins by inertia, not by play

Florentino Pérez calls Xabi Alonso

One phone call. That was all. Florentino Pérez called Xabi Alonso to wish him a happy birthday and, who knows, maybe for something else. The Tolosa native revealed this at a press conference, and the machinery began to work as only it can at Real Madrid. That gesture changed the mood in a dressing room that does not quite understand Alonso's style of football. That is the downside, that when something is not liked at the Bernabéu, everyone finds out unofficially because there is hardly any official communication at the club. For better or for worse.    

Difficulties in Piraeus against Olympiacos

Playing Mendilibar's Olympiacos in Piraeus is not easy. Greek hell is more for basketball, but the Georgios Karaiskakis vibrates with its team and pays homage to its coach after a few glorious seasons. After eight minutes, Chiquinho had already scored the first goal with an accurate shot from outside the area. Lunin stretched, but couldn't reach it, although he may have been more bothered by the indolence of a strange defence made up of Asencio (the only fit centre-back) alongside Carreras, Mendy and Trent. There was little blood running through the veins of his teammates at the back. The three goals scored by Olympiacos were a reflection of the defenders' failure to do their duty. And there could have been more if it hadn't been for the quality of the Ukrainian goalkeeper.  

Real Madrid's defensive performance

Real Madrid are a defensive flan. Militao and Huijsen were not in Athens, but even when they are there, they are not infallible. The coolness of one and the impetuosity of the other do not go well together, and if neither is there, improvisation leads to Carreras watching the ball fly over his head without attacking it, resulting in a 3-4 error.   

Key actions by Mbappé and Vinicius

Mbappé and Vinicius decided to give the ball to the Greeks and wait for them in their half. It was risky, given the poor defensive effort, but if they couldn't score more goals, the metres behind the centre-backs were fertile ground for scoring. And so it was. Mbappé outran Pirola and Retsos, and Vinicius sent perfect passes to the Frenchman, who scored three goals in just seven minutes. That 1-3 score relaxed the Whites so much that in the 52nd minute, they saw Taremi score the 2-3 and ignite the Karaiskakis stands. 

Before that, Mbappé made it 2-4 and calmed the mood once again. Disconnections are costly in the Champions League, and in two weeks Manchester City will arrive with the need to get into the top eight, avoid a play-off and allow Guardiola to clean up a very tarnished image among his fans. 

Changes and injuries at Real Madrid

Bellingham and his strange injury came off in the 60th minute. Ceballos came on after the break for Camavinga and, in the end, Brahim and Fran García gave Asencio and Vinicius a rest. All the changes attracted attention, as did Tchouaméni's inclusion in the starting line-up. It must be due to Valverde's lack of everything, as between his anger and poor physical condition, he is beginning to look like a suspicious lump on the pitch.   

Real Madrid wins by inertia, not by play

Real Madrid won by inertia and not by play. Like almost all of their victories this season. The problem will come in January with the possible Clásico in the Super Cup final and, of course, in the final stretch of the Champions League, where teams are flying high, as demonstrated by Arsenal, PSG and Chelsea. Alonso's team is far from competing head-to-head with those teams. Another call is not going to fix it again.