The worst news possible dropped on New Year's Eve when Real Madrid announced that Kylian Mbappe is injured. The French striker has a sprain in his left knee and will need three weeks to recover, per L'Equipe.
Mbappe has been at his scintillating best this season, bagging 18 goals in as many La Liga games. It's a major setback for Xabi Alonso who has been under pressure at the start of his reign at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The question now turns to how does the Spanish tactician react to Mbappe's absence. He needs to figure out a way to get his Los Blancos stars firing without the French talisman.
We've take a dive into three ways Alonso could set up his side over the next few weeks. That includes for the Spanish Super Cup semi-final on January 8th.
Balancing act: 4-3-1-2
Mbappe's injury isn't just going to impact Alonso's attack but the entire team's setup given he was the focal point of his side's frontline. That might mean a change in formation which sees Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo line up as a front two.
There has been much speculation over Vinicius' future amid suggestions he is at loggerheads with Alonso. He has taken too kindly to being substituted for tactical reasons.
But he remains a certain starter and could do so alongside Rodrygo who has refound form after a difficult start to the season. He bagged in a 2-1 loss to Manchester City and a 2-1 win over Alaves before registering two assists against Sevilla in a 2-0 victory on December 20th.
Jude Bellingham, who could relish this system, can play just behind the pair, making his clever runs into the box while helping out Alonso's midfield. That pairing should be Federico Valverde and Eduardo Camavinga with Aurelien Tchouameni used in holding midfield.
Possession perfection: 4-3-3
With crucial games against Real Betis and Atletico Madrid on the horizon Alonso could use a 4-3-3 to try and get Rodrygo in the right positions to replace Mbappe's missing threat. Using him as a false 9 could be beneficial while Vinicius operates out on the left and Brahim Diaz comes in on the right.
Rodrygo has shown he can thrive in such a role and was impressive when handed the responsibility of leading the line under Carlo Ancelotti. He posted 10 goals in 34 La Liga games two seasons ago, and all of them came centrally.
This formation allows Bellingham to operate from deeper while Brahim can have joy out on the wing. The Moroccan is waiting for an opportunity amid being handed a bit-part role under Alonso.
On the counter: 4-4-2
Another system that allows Vinicius and Rodrygo to spearhead Alonso's attack is a flat or hybrid 4-4-2. This allows the Brazilians to use their pace on the counter and could be effective defensively while helping the team flourish in transition.
The only issue is a lack of creativity and Alonso's team could get caught out if they sit too deep. But he has the players to handle such a setup especially if Los Merengues are under the cosh.
This formation can be adapted to get the best out of Vinicius, Rodrygo and Bellingham. The English midfielder might be the one to step up in Mbappe's absence.