Is Real Madrid's Galacticos 2.0 sustainable?

With goals from the newly allotted number 8, Federico Valverde, and new number 9, Kylian Mbappé, Real Madrid inaugurated the upcoming season by lifting the UEFA Super Cup. This new Galacticos 2.0 squad has made a statement by defeating the Europa League champions.

While fans humorously called the squad "illegal" just moments after viewing the lineup, is there some truth to it? Does Real Madrid finally have the potential to conquer Europe and go on to win their first-ever sextuple?

Carlo Ancelotti fielded what could be considered the strongest Real Madrid XI against Atalanta, showcasing to viewers just how formidable his attacking lineup is becoming. While the attackers relentlessly troubled the Italian side’s backline, a vulnerability in the blueprint became quite apparent.

Real Madrid’s front three lack defensive tracking, which could be concerning in the long run. This forces the team to limit their defenders' overlapping runs, increasing the risk of being caught in transitions.

Real Madrid’s biggest challenge this season stems from Toni Kroos’ retirement. Many would argue the German was the anchor of the team, consistently delivering precise passes and key plays. The void he has left behind is significant.

While Valverde has taken his number, he doesn’t possess the same skill set as the maestro. Valverde prefers to carry the ball into the final third before feeding it to the forwards, whereas Kroos could find his target from the defensive half. This absence of the final ball was evident in their last game, where Vinicius Jr. was seen dropping into the #10 role to supply the final pass or carry the ball into the final third.

Thibaut Courtois had to attempt 15 long balls to remedy the situation at times too. This compels Ancelotti to consider utilizing a different midfielder, such as Luka Modric, Arda Güler, or Dani Ceballos. Stylistically, the closest player to Toni Kroos last season was the Catalan, Aleix Garcia, who signed for the German champions, Bayer Leverkusen, from Girona.

To improve this situation, Real Madrid must focus on keeping the ball more in the opposition’s half and being more patient in their build-up. Once they maintain control, their flair combinations will prove so effective that it will be nearly impossible to lose a fixture.

An alternate strategy would be to directly acquire a player who can ping those balls as well as, or possesses similar traits to, Kroos. One such player linked to the Galácticos is Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool. If Real Madrid can secure his signature, they will inevitably be the greatest team of the season and will be in contention to be the greatest team of all time, at least in terms of potential.

This is, however, only the first game of the season, and despite these minor inconsistencies in their side, Real Madrid still stand as the strongest squad in Europe after finally securing Mbappe. Time and again, Ancelotti has proven himself as the perfect pick to unlock the whole potential of this squad.

The team remains confident in their pursuit of achieving a sextuple for the first time in the club’s history. Are they capable enough? Absolutely. But will it be sustainable without adjustments? Unlikely.