Alonso Praises Mbappe Ahead of Juventus Clash in Champions League

Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso praised striker Kylian Mbappé's outstanding form as the French forward leads both La Liga and Champions League scoring charts ahead of Wednesday's home clash against Juventus. The 26-year-old has netted 18 goals across all competitions since joining from Paris Saint-Germain, helping Madrid win 10 of their 11 matches this season.

Mbappé has scored 10 goals in nine La Liga appearances and five goals in just two Champions League matches. He's also contributed three goals for France during this period. His impact goes beyond the scoresheet, according to Alonso.

"It's not just about the goals," Alonso told reporters Tuesday. "His influence is equally important in how teammates follow him with and without the ball. He helps us. He's scored goals everywhere. This impact, plus the goals, is what the team needs."

Madrid sits top of La Liga with 24 points, two ahead of Barcelona, and has maximum points in the Champions League. The team's strong start under Alonso reflects how quickly Mbappé has settled into his new environment after years of speculation about his potential move to the Spanish capital.

But Alonso warned against underestimating Wednesday's opponents. Juventus hasn't won in over a month and sits seventh in Serie A, four points behind leaders AC Milan. Despite their struggles, the Madrid boss knows Italian teams can be dangerous when cornered.

"We're ready to face Juventus tomorrow. Any struggling Italian team can be dangerous," Alonso said. "We shouldn't forget history. Juventus is a big club, both now and in the past. They have very good players."

The match represents a classic European encounter between two clubs with rich Champions League history. Madrid will be looking for their third consecutive win in the competition to maintain their perfect start.

Alonso also spoke about Vinícius Júnior, who has five goals and four assists in nine La Liga matches this season. The Brazilian winger remains crucial to Madrid's attacking play alongside Mbappé.

"He's a very good player and a key element in this formation this season, as he has been in many previous seasons," Alonso said of Vinícius. "He's essential and decisive. I'm very happy to see him enjoying himself and smiling. His current performance is outstanding, and he responds very well to instructions in matches."

The Bernabéu crowd will expect another strong performance as Madrid looks to build on their impressive early-season form. With Mbappé finding his rhythm and Vinícius maintaining his high standards, Madrid appears well-positioned for another deep European run.