You can't lose with Alonso

On 26th October 2013, Real Madrid lost to Barcelona at the Camp Nou 1-2 and fell behind the Catalan club by six points. It was the maximum points difference that 'Los Blancos' had suffered so far. Three days after the disaster, however, Xabi Alonso returned, and Real's game changed completely. With Alonso in control, Real have never come away from a game empty-handed. They are now league leaders, in the Cup final and only a tragedy of catastrophic proportions will keep them out of the quarterfinals in the Champions League.

"Xabi is going to be the best signing", predicted Ancelotti when he couldn't count on the player's services. And he was right, as the manager has found in the Spaniard the best partner possible to turn things around. "He's a very intelligent player, with a lot of experience, vital to Real Madrid", the manager declared.

Without Xabi, Real didn't have a definitive style, with two defeats and struggling to keep up in third place. With him, they are a joy to watch, league leaders who as yet don't know what it is to lose. If they keep this up, they will soon be in the Real Madrid annals of history. So far they have played 27 consecutive games without losing – 23 wins and four draws. The record is in the hands of Beenhaker's team, with 34 games on the trot without seeing defeat.

Since Xabi's return to the team, he has played 25 of the 27 games possible. He has become crucial to the team's successes, and is therefore being looked after to the max by his manager.