The Global Madridista

Real Madrid's victory in Santander was a tale of two halves. The first half showed the very best of the squad, speed, verticality and finishing. The second half was a disappointing episode of clock management which left a lot to be desired. But the general trajectory of the squad is very positive. And now suddenly, anything is possible.

Real Madrid showed its competitive DNA in a match that was very well prepared tactically. Real Madrid's speed on the counter proved lethal in the end. La Liga is still alive and with wind in the sails, the Champions League just got a lot more interesting.

Barcelona v Real Madrid : The biggest club match in the world is back. Mourinho has some critical decisions to make. In this video, I volunteer my ideal lineup and suggest 10 key things Real Madrid has to do to win this match.

Three saves last night reminded us of something Madridistas should never take for granted: Thibaut Courtois is the best goalkeeper in the world.In this video I break down the five things every elite goalkeeper must do to be effective, and show why Courtois is the best in each one. Along the way we go back to Paris, 2022: nine saves against Liverpool, a Champions League final won almost single-handedly, and one of the greatest goalkeeping performances the competition has ever seen.Goalkeepers rarely get the credit they deserve. A great save is remembered for five minutes. A mistake is remembered for years. This is my attempt to give Courtois some of the credit he has earned.Is Courtois the best in the world, or is there someone you’d put above him? Tell me in the comments.⚪ Join the Global Madridista Club for members-only watchalongs, Bernabéu Hot Takes, extra Uncle’s Corner episodes and exclusive videos

Real Madrid 4-1 RB Leipzig. A complete performance at the Bernabéu.Tonight Madrid played with intensity, speed and verticality from the first whistle. The work rate was exceptional, the transitions were sharp, and for once every decision from the bench seemed to land. Mourinho got his calls right, and the team responded.Arda Güler was on another level, controlling the tempo and creating constantly. And Diomande’s volley is one we’ll be talking about for a long What did you make of tonight’s performance? Let me know in the comments.🔔 Subscribe for calm, analytical Real Madrid coverage from steps away from the Bernabéu.⭐ Join the Global Madridista Club for members-only content.

Last night’s Betis vs Barcelona was one of the worst refereeing performances I’ve seen in La Liga, and sadly I have seen many. ▶ The Barça goal scored while fouling a Betis player, and how it stood▶ The high boot that should have cancelled another Barça goal, which also looked offside, with no VAR review at all▶ Lamine shoving opponents and getting only a yellow, while the Betis player who reacted was sent off▶ What this says about the state of refereeing and VAR in La LigaBetis fans, Madridistas, neutrals: was this the worst officiated match of the season? Tell me in the comments.🔔 Subscribe to The Global Madridista for Real Madrid and La Liga analysis

Real Madrid 4–1 Sevilla at the Bernabéu, and Mourinho got the lineup exactly right. Arda Güler and Diomande were outstanding tonight. They controlled the rhythm, created danger every time they touched the ball, and showed why they belong in the starting XI.In this video I break down:Why Mourinho’s lineup choices workedWhat made Arda and Diomande so effectiveWhat this performance means heading into next Sunday’s Clásico at BarcelonaShould this be Mourinho’s starting XI for the Clásico? Let me know in the comments.🤍 Join the Global Madridista Club for away-match watchalongs, members-only Bernabéu Hot Takes, extra Uncle’s Corner episodes and more:

Real Madrid played one of the poorest matches one can remember for 75 full minutes. And then the DNA came through. Much needs to be fixed. But the fighting spirit is still there.

Real Madrid grind out a 1-0 win over Villareal and the refs, with Diomande scoring the decisive goal. Three points are three points, but this performance raised real concerns about our finishing and raised doubts as to the viability of this league.

Real Madrid return from the international break and face a tough test against Villarreal with a weakened defense. Dropping points at home is not an option, and we are all out of excuses. In this preview I break down Madrid's likely lineup, and comment on Mourinho's masterclass press conference.

Between 2001 and 2018, FC Barcelona paid millions to José María Enríquez Negreira, then vice-president of Spain's referees' committee (CTA). Barça fans keep asking for proof it had any effect on the pitch. So, we ran the numbers.Red cards. Yellow cards. Disallowed goals. Comparing La Liga's refereeing stats with those in European competition, the gaps aren't small, they're off the charts. We also look at what happened after the payments stopped and at today's referees, practically all of whom came up through the CTA during the Negreira years. Nothing has changed. No shouting, no conspiracy theories. Just the math. Check my work.

One bad apple can spoil the bunch, and right now Real Madrid may have two. Vinícius Jr. has looked well off the pace physically, and Kylian Mbappé's off-pitch distractions are becoming impossible to ignore. Meanwhile, Jude Bellingham and Arda Güler are showing exactly what focus and commitment look like, and their form proves it.In this video I break down what's going wrong with Vini's conditioning, why Kylian's off-field behavior matters, and how the contrast with Jude and Arda says a lot about where this squad is heading. Is this a temporary dip or a deeper problem in the dressing room?

Real Madrid are 4th in La Liga, six points behind Barcelona after losing the derby, and the problems are piling up. In this video I break down the 10 biggest issues in Real Madrid's play under José Mourinho.From the second-half collapses to Vinícius' form, the missing creativity in midfield and a right flank that produces almost nothing, here's what's going wrong and what Mourinho needs to fix.

While the Premier League has finally delivered a verdict on Manchester City's financial charges, Spanish football is still waiting for answers on issues that have been in plain sight for years.In this video I lay out 25 unanswered questions about how La Liga and the RFEF are run: refereeing, governance, financial oversight, conflicts of interest, and the institutions that are supposed to hold everyone accountable. None of these questions are new. What's missing is anyone willing to answer them.The contrast is hard to ignore. In England, an independent commission investigated, heard the evidence, and ruled, even against the league's most powerful club. In Spain, the pattern seems to be delay, deflection and silence. Why?This isn't about club loyalty. It's about whether Spanish football deserves the trust of its fans, and whether the people running it are willing to earn it.Watch the full breakdown, then tell me in the comments: which question do you think La Liga least wants to answer?

Real Madrid played a horrendous match at the Metropolitano, unworthy of the players we have. Mourinho needs to make some hard decisions if this squad is to turn around. It is September and La liga feels all but lost.

Real Madrid cannot afford to lose, period. Mourinho needs to play our strongest squad, and at the moment that should not include Vini Jr. The decision to bench Vini is not an easy one. But Mourinho needs to consider it.

Real Madrid cannot continue to do this. The squad is incapable of playing 90 minutes of football. This will not do if we are going to compete this season.

Real Madrid played 45 very good minutes then fell asleep and played with fire. Arda Guler revived the patient and sealed the victory. If Real Madrid is to compete this season, it must play 90 minutes of football.

Real Madrid is not playing at the level we expected. There are clear deficiencies in our play, which I discuss in detail. But the bigger picture is much more positive than headlines would suggest. Here are some compelling reasons to be optimistic.

Real Madrid's victory against Inter was frustrating, with some negative takeaways but some positive ones as well. This match was all over the place. But the 3 points are the most important thing.