Xabi Alonso is not currently concerned about Real Madrid's failure to play "rock and roll" football, with his only desire to reverse their current slide.

Madrid visit San Mames to take on Athletic Club in LaLiga on Wednesday, and they could find themselves four points off the summit by kick-off, should Barcelona beat Atletico Madrid.

Los Blancos have only won one of their last five games in all competitions, beating Olympiacos 4-3 in the Champions League. 

They have drawn three successive matches in LaLiga, against Rayo Vallecano (0-0), Elche (2-2) and Girona (1-1), leading to criticism of Alonso in the Spanish media.

When Alonso took the reins at the Santiago Bernabeu in June, the former midfielder pledged to get his old club playing "rock and roll football", but right now, his focus is substance over style.

"We just play football. I'm trying to do my best," he said. "This team, these players, have always tried to give their best. There have been good games, and others were not so good. 

"That's why we haven't been able to win in the last few games, because we lacked consistency in our game, but the demand is to always be able to give a higher level."

Alonso also added he had spoken to president Florentino Perez and retained the full backing of the club's hierarchy.

He said: "Yes, we have spoken again, and the conversations were very positive, in a good tone, about wanting to reverse the results. That is what we have talked about.

"We are where we are in the standings, both in LaLiga and in the Champions League. We live with the demands, as well as with the criticism. 

"This is something inherent in Real Madrid and at any other football club. But we know where we are and we want to focus on what we can work on, on improving to win games and then, when April and May arrive, we hope to be playing for everything."

Athletic are eighth in LaLiga after beating Levante 2-0 last time out. Ernesto Valverde's side are four points adrift of the top six, but the head coach has a poor record against Madrid.

Valverde has lost 19 of his 29 matches against Madrid in LaLiga, winning nine and drawing four, more defeats than he has suffered against any other club in the competition.

PLAYERS TO WATCH 

Athletic Club – Alex Berenguer 

Last Saturday, against Levante, Berenguer became the first Athletic player to provide two assists in a single LaLiga game since Yuri Berchiche did so against Real Valladolid in February earlier this year.

Berenguer has created 11 chances from set-pieces in LaLiga this campaign, with only three players recording more through the first 14 matchdays.

Real Madrid – Kylian Mbappe

Mbappe has scored 23 goals in 19 games across all competitions this season. Among players in Europe's top five leagues, only Harry Kane has more goals since the end of the Club World Cup, netting 24 times.

The France captain has netted 14 times from an expected goals (xG) tally of 12.7 in LaLiga in 2025-26, converting 20.9% of his 67 shots.

MATCH PREDICTION – REAL MADRID WIN

Following their 1-0 victory in this fixture at San Mames in December 2024, Athletic could win back-to-back home games against Madrid in LaLiga for the first time since September 2004, with those two victories also coming under Valverde, during his first stint in charge.

But Madrid have won on seven of their 12 visits to the new San Mames in LaLiga (D3 L2). No other visiting team has managed more victories there in the competition, with Barcelona also boasting seven wins from 12 visits (D3 L2).

Los Blancos' next win over Athletic will be their 100th against them in LaLiga (P188 W99 D37 L52). 

Only two teams have ever reached 100 wins against a single opponent in the competition's history – Madrid themselves against Espanyol (109) and Barcelona, also against Espanyol (104).

Alonso's side are favourites with the Opta supercomputer, but they are unlikely to have things all their own way against resurgent opponents.

Athletic have picked up six of the last nine points available in LaLiga (W2 L1), after earning just five from their previous eight games in the competition (G8 W1 D2 L5).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Athletic Club – 25.5%

Real Madrid – 51%

Draw – 23.5%