They say if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Real Madrid has been the defining the club in Europe over the past ten years, winning multiple Champions League crowns – their latest triumph coming with a new-look team brimming with prodigious talent – and establishing themselves as leaders in Spain.
However, after last season’s double success, things have not gone so well for manager Carlo Ancelotti. The arrival of Kylian Mbappe has caused tactical conundrums, while an injury crisis has exposed some gaps in the depth of their squad.
Here’s how MadridThe start of the campaign has passed and what we can expect from the Whites during the rest of the season.
|
Games played (all compositions) |
win |
draws |
losses |
goal difference |
League position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
17 |
11 |
3 |
3 |
+18 |
2nd |
Madrid’s campaign started as well as it can for almost any club in the world, winning the UEFA Super Cup against Atalanta as Kylian Mbappe scored on his debut.
Los Blancos remained unbeaten in all competitions until the start of October, staying in the La Liga title race as Barcelona took an early lead after beating Stuttgart in their opening game of the Champions League. However, a defeat to Lille showed some cracks in their armor before a three-game winning streak was sensationally snapped. The classic like Barça won 4-0 at the Bernabéu.
Another defeat against Milan Madrid felt existential with clear questions about the compatibility of Mbappe and Vinicius Junior beginning to emerge. While they managed to recover with a 4-0 to Osasuna Ahead of the international break in November, injuries to Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao, David Alaba and Thibaut Courtois, among others, have proved very damaging.
Madrid usually have a few contenders for player of the season, but the options are a little slimmer in 2024/25 than usual.
While the offense has yet to get going, there is no doubt about it Vinicius JuniorEnduring quality and importance to the team. The Brazilian superstar has scored two hat-tricks, one of them he helped Madrid reverse the 2-0 against Borussia Dortmund – and has made the difference when his team has needed it.
While it looks like every defender around him has been hit by injury, Antonio Rudiger it’s still high in the back. There is little the German can do about the absences and the collective impact he has had, but Rudiger remains as resolute as ever at centre-back and even has two goals in the game. Champions League.
There’s still so much time left in the season that these players don’t have to fear the campaign being a write-off just yet, but there’s no doubt that some stars haven’t produced the quality performances they’re capable of, either because system problems. or otherwise.
Given his status as possibly the best player in the world before his free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain, Kylian MbappéThe first months in the Madrid shirt have been disappointing. Even with eight goals in 16 games, the France captain has stood in Vinicius’ way as both stars like to play from the left and he has not been entirely comfortable when deployed in a central role.
Jude Bellingham He was banging in the goals at this time last year, but problems between Mbappe and Vinicius have seen his threat in the final third diminish this term, while his midfield partners Aurelien Tchouameni i Federico Valverde have been far below their expected levels.
You can’t rule out trophies when it comes to Real Madrid. The Spanish giants are serial winners and have made worse starts to seasons in the past and still bounced back to win all sorts of silverware.
That said, you shouldn’t ignore your problems right now. If Ancelotti can’t find a way for Vinicius and Mbappe to coexist and thrive together, they may not finish the campaign at the top of the pile in either Spain or Europe.
Injuries in defense could spoil Madrid’s campaign if they are unlucky, but they have shown plenty of resilience in the past and it would be foolish to write them off just yet.
