Real Madrid fans have already gotten plenty of glimpses of the differences between Xabi Alonso and Carlo Ancelotti.
They've seen the team be more conservative in possession and already look less risk adverse than they did under the Brazilian legend.
Now, they get a taste of something that was rare under Ancelotti which was squad rotation. In just the second match week, Alonso has made some surprising choices with his lineup including some surprising inclusions and surprise exclusions.
Rodrygo, Mastantuono, Carvajal In
Rodrygo has been benched in seven straight games under Xabi Alonso and got zero minutes in the match against Osasuna. So that makes his inclusion in the starting eleven that much more shocking as he gets the start and has been put in his favored position off the left.
Mastantuono is a bit less of a shock as many already thought he should've already been starting ahead of Brahim Diaz. The young Argentine gets handed his first start with Los Blancos just a few weeks after his arrival.
Carvajal starts at right back ahead of new signing Trent Alexander-Arnold who started last game but looked a bit off his game. The Spanish right back gets his first start back since he tore his ACL last season.
Trent, Diaz, Vini Out
Trent has surprisingly not been included in the starting eleven despite being brought in to be the main right back this season. It's unclear whether this an adaptation thing or matchup thing but it's very much surprising that the star right back has been benched this early in the season.
Brahim Diaz being back on the bench isn't surprising as he was seen as the stop gap until Mastantuono was ready and hasn't really ever impressed as a starter. He could make an impact off the bench and it feels like that role suits him better.
The most surprising exclusion is that of Vini Jr as he's not been a player that's been benched too often since he's been a key part of Madrid's two most recent Champions League success. On form this shouldn't be surprising but it's a bold call for a new manager in Alonso to make.