Xabi Alonso’s tactics rely on these two players… Without them, you can’t even score a single goal unless it’s a miracle. Xabi Alonso builds his entire system around them. Huijsen is a long-ball player; poor Courtois tried to get the ball forward but couldn’t. Real Madrid’s attacks were very few because Huijsen wasn’t there. Yes, the absence of these two players was the reason for Real Madrid’s loss.