Detailed look at key stats that expose Real Madrid’s biggest problem this season | OneFootball

Concerns are beginning to grow around Real Madrid’s attacking efficiency under Xabi Alonso, and a recent report from MARCA has highlighted a worrying trend that could define the second half of the season.

On the surface, Madrid’s attacking output should not be an issue. The squad includes Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr., Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo. 

Yet despite Mbappe’s prolific form, Alonso’s side lacks a collective clinical edge – a problem that becomes clearer when the numbers are examined closely.

After 17 league matches, Real Madrid have scored 34 goals, a figure that places them 15 goals behind Barcelona. 

However, what makes this gap more concerning is the volume of chances created. 

Madrid have registered 128 shots on target, but their conversion rate sits at just 28.12%. 

In contrast, Barcelona, under Hansi Flick, have recorded 136 shots on target and converted them at a much healthier 35.5% success rate.

The holistic picture

The issue becomes even more alarming when placed in a wider European context. 

Real Madrid’s conversion rate is very poor. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

Across the five major leagues, 66 teams outperform Real Madrid in terms of turning shots on target into goals. 

At the top of that efficiency ranking sits Tottenham Hotspur, with a conversion rate of 46.5%. 

Individually, Mbappe is carrying a heavy burden. The French forward has scored 29 goals from 61 shots on target, an extraordinary 47.5% conversion rate. 

However, the drop-off from his attacking partners is stark. Vinicius is converting chances at 18%, while Rodrygo sits even lower at 16%. 

The numbers worsen in the UEFA Champions League. There, Madrid’s efficiency drops to 27.6%, ranking them 17th out of 36 teams. 

Of the 13 goals scored in Europe, nine have come from Mbappe alone. From 47 shots on target, he has taken 18, nearly 38.3% of the team’s total, and converted half of them.

In La Liga, the pattern is identical. Mbappe accounts for 39 of Madrid’s 128 shots on target and exactly half of their league goals.

The data paints a clear picture that unless Alonso finds solutions to spread the scoring responsibility, this inefficiency could become a major weakness as the season intensifies.