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Real Madrid have officially given up the ghost as regards any meaningful La Liga challenge. Hansi Flick’s Barcelona are en route to a successful title defence after managing to overcome their hurdles with far more efficiency than their eternal rivals.
Humble Pie
Real Madrid have won La Liga a measly 5 times since 2008. To put this in the proper context, Real Madrid have more the Champions League 6 times in that same period. Mourinho won in 2011/12, Zidane in 2016/17 and 2019/20 with Ancelotti
then winning in 2021/22 and 2023/24. That is 5 La Liga titles out of a possible 17. A return of less than 1 La Liga title every 3 seasons.
There have been numerous explanations given for this poor domestic performance. Famously, Real Madrid do not care much about domestic competition as they are more interested in preserving a dominant image on the European and global stage.
Xabi Alonso was the superstar manager, many of us had hoped would buck the trend and build a more formidable domestic record. It was not to be as the ex-player failed to manage his dressing room and failed to read the room entirely.
Suffice it to say, Real Madrid were their own worst enemy this season as has been the case for the best part of two decades.
Before the loss to Mallorca, La Liga had already slipped away. It would have required Barcelona to lose 3 of their remaining 9 games and one of those losses would have to come in El Clasico which isn’t unlikely at all. Now Barcelona have to drop point in 4 of their remaining 8 games including a loss in El Clasico while Real Madrid have to be perfect. That is a most unlikely scenario.
Real Madrid in 2025/26 are not a serious outfit.
The Champions League
Our Heritage
Real Madrid will be fighting for pride in the champions league tie against Bayern who are by all means, miles ahead of the current Bernabeu outfit. Real Madrid are not short of resources compared to the Munich outfit anymore than they would be short of resources compared to Barcelona. Now with La Liga all but done, Los Blancos have to hold on to the Champions League run as something to show for a season of football many would sooner wish to forget.
Arbeloa’s biggest challenge is that he no longer has the luxury of injuries to allow him to focus on building a structure and rhythm to the game. He now has to name starters and pray.
Real Madrid have one advantage against Bayern but it is rather slim. It is the same advantage we hold against Barcelona and yet have come up short in 5 of our last 6 outings against the Blaugrana. Bayern are hyper offensive and will pins us back in our own half while attacking half spaces and creating shooting chances. This leaves their defence exposed in transition. We have all the players built for that opening but how many times will we do it effectively and be clinical in front of goal? That will be the difference.
I always support Real Madrid even when we’re underdogs, I believe we can win. I believe we can beat Bayern but that would be the upset as we’re in no way, shape or form even remote favourites in the tie. The weight of history once again rests on the shoulders of the boys in white.
Bayern will be out for revenge for the umpteenth time as they’ve gone more than a decade without a victory over Real Madrid in this European Classic affair.
