Xabi Alonso warned that his side are “still building” even though he has the opportunity to match the greatest start ever made by a Real Madrid manager in Saturday’s derby against Atlético Madrid.
The former Bayer Leverkusen boss collected his sixth consecutive La Liga win on Tuesday night, overseeing a comfortable 4–1 stroll away to Levante. Kylian Mbappé was once again on target, taking his swollen tally to seven league goals with another brace, while Vinícius Júnior delivered the perfect response to reports of his frustration with a delicious finish curved with the outside of his boot inside the far post.
Should Alonso extend his winning streak to seven straight league matches this weekend, he would match the all-time record set by Vanderlei Luxemburgo in 2005. The divisive Brazilian boss enjoyed the longest run of top-flight victories in Madrid’s history after taking over a team of glittering Galácticos at the turn of the year.
Despite the bright beginning, it all ended in tears for Luxemburgo. Madrid failed to win a single trophy that season, finishing second in La Liga to Barcelona while getting knocked out of the Champions League last 16. Even though they were able to call upon the likes of Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos and Raúl, Madrid were humiliated in the Copa del Rey by second-tier Real Valladolid.
