Real Madrid wrap the extended first weekend of the 2025/26 La Liga season at home to Osasuna on August 19.
After failing in their request to La Liga for the game to be pushed back to August 23 - due to a compacted post-FIFA Club World Cup preseason campaign - Xabi Alonso has to simply get on with it.
The former midfielder impressed early on in the USA, guiding Los Blancos to the semifinals, before being blown away by PSG.
A summer of personnel changes has underpinned Alonso's attempts to make his mark on the squad - with captain Luka Modric moving on to AC Milan - and three new defenders arriving in the Spanish capital.
Trent Alexander-Arnold exit saga at Liverpool ended in June, as Real Madrid were eventually forced to pay an exit fee to secure the England star, and he is joined by fellow fresh faces Dean Huijsen and Alvaro Carreras.
All three will start against Osasuna, as part of a major defensive shake up, but there are still overhanging questions for Alonso, following a trophyless 2024/25 under Carlo Ancelotti.
Ahead of their opening game of the La Liga season, The Sporting News takes a look at three key issues Alonso must address.
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Can Militao step up as Alonso's defensive leader?
Alonso needs to hit the ground running in front of an expectant Estadio Santiago Bernabeu crowd in Madrid - particularly as Barcelona opened their title defence with a ruthless 3-0 win in Mallorca.
With his squad only returning for training at the start of August, Alonso's charges have played just one preseason game, via a 4-0 stroll against WSG Tirol in Austria.
His starting line up against Tirol offered an insight into his thinking for the Osasuna with the new trio set to be joined by Eder Militao.
The Brazilian is finally back to full fitness following two ACL injuries - spaced just 15 months apart - and his previous partner Antonio Rudiger is suspended.
The former Chelsea centre-back was hit with a six-game ban following the red card chaos after defeat to Barcelona in Aprils Copa del Rey final.
Despite his gritty experience playing a huge part under Ancelotti, some erratic performances and his aging limbs, have thrown doubt over where he fits into Alonso's plans.
Jonathan Tah was the defensive enforcer for him at Bayer Leverkusen, but Rudiger is more of a high-wire operator, and that's a concern.
The question will not come into real focus until the weekend trip to Real Oviedo when his ban ends.
Militao fits the Alonso profile better, but Trent, Carreras and a youthful Huijsen need a leader, and that task sits more comfortably with Rudiger.
Magic man Mastantunono
Fans of Brazilian domestic football will be well aware of Franco Mastantuono's rise at River Plate but European-based eyes are less familiar with the teenager.
His blockbuster move to Madrid was delayed until his 18th birthday on August 14, but based on Real Madrid's reduced preseason, he will not be too far behind his new teammates.
Alonso has indicated h is ready to throw the Argentina international straight in at the deep end - but the sense is that's his new manager showing his faith in the new Brazilian on the Bernabeu block.
Jude Bellingham's absence means Alonso's midfield plans will only be temporary until he returns from shoulder surgery in October.
Alonso needs a link player to work alongside Bellingham and ultimately unlock the best of Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior in the same system.
Eduardo Camavinga is also out, so Alonso will lean on Fede Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni to keep the engine room at full power, a Mastantuono debut off the bench is expected.
Rodrygo's final dance at Real Madrid
Despite the daunting nature of exacting the best from Mbappe and Vini Jr, Alonso is excited by the challenge, and he has no real alternative as the duo are too valuable to let go.
The odd one out at the Club World Cup - and at the back end of Ancelotti's tenure - has been Rodrygo Goes, amid major speculation he could leave this summer.
Liverpool and Arsenal has ended their interest in the Brazil star, with the former chasing down Alexander Isak, and the Gunners securing Viktor Gyokeres.
Arda Guler and Brahim Diaz look to have edged ahead of him as starters, as Alonso prefers a player who can drop into midfield, to cover for the fact that Mbappe and Vin Jr will not.
Manchester City appears to be his final option before the transfer deadline, but there are still plenty of moving parts, as Pep Guardiola seeks to offload several players.
Alonso is happy for him to stay - even if his No.11 is not - but a decision is incoming either way ahead of the transfer deadline on September 1.
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