Monthly Dossier: September, 2026

Real Madrid showcased a remarkable turnaround in their September 2026 football campaign, following a 2-1 defeat to Atletico Madrid in a Madrid derby that registered a record low of 0.38 npxG. Throughout August and September, the team secured six wins and two losses from eight matches. They have increased shot volume to 17.6 per 90, up from 16.6 last season, while reducing open-play passes from 463 to 416 per 90, and final-third passes from 109 to 86.

This shift in passing dynamics has resulted in more opportunities created without a rise in ball circulation.

Real Madrid's passing threat has been restructured, with the central areas of the final third contributing the most, up from 0.17 to 0.32 per match, while the contribution from the left side of the final third has diminished from 0.33 to 0.22 per match. The opponents have been completing more passes in the Penalty Area Danger Area (PPDA) zone, which has risen from 11.4 to 14.1. The recorded second-ball wins have decreased from 3.9 to 2.6 per match.

Arda Güler remains the leading chance creator for 2026-27, with 28 chances created from 354 minutes played. This season, seven of the 11 players from the 2025-26 selection have made the cut for the starting lineup. Ibrahima Konaté, Denzel Dumfries, Marc Cucurella, and Trent Alexander-Arnold are among the players now part of the elite group.

In terms of starting eleven, Madrid directly leads the touch count in seven of the 24 active zones. Conversely, opponents dominate in seven zones. The balance of chances shifts depending on the location within the field, with the defensive third favoring Madrid in three zones, while the opponents lead in three zones in the middle third, and three zones favor the opposition in the final third.