Resilient Real Madrid: A Force to Reckon with in the 2024/25 Season
Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid were unquestionably one of the finest squads in Europe last season as they ended up capturing the Champions League alongside La Liga. Yet, they have not had the smoothest of openings to the 2024/25 campaign. Nevertheless, Los Blancos are regarded as a club that delivers when it counts.
With the latter portion of the season still ahead, the team in white can assuredly still compete for all premier accolades. When Ancelotti transitioned to a 4-4-2 diamond last season following the arrival of Jude Bellingham, there were numerous doubts about whether it was the optimal formation to proceed with. Ultimately, matters did align, as the English international performed a pivotal role in all their triumphs.
Once again, the Italian strategist has been compelled to enact a significant tactical shift to his structure as Real Madrid strive to incorporate Kylian Mbappe into the lineup. While the French international is undeniably among the globe’s elite and his presence strengthens their offense, adapting to the number nine position hasn’t been entirely seamless for him.
Besides the tactical adjustments and Mbappe’s adaptation struggles, injuries have generated several complications for Los Blancos. David Alaba is yet to recover from the ACL injury he sustained last season, whereas Eder Militao and Dani Carvajal are sidelined for the duration of the season.
Despite all the adversity, Real Madrid can still salvage their campaign, and it appears gradual improvements are emerging for them. Here is why The Hard Tackle asserts the Merengues could yet succeed in dominating Europe during the 2024/25 season.
The Big 3 are beginning to synchronize
There is no disputing the reality that Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, and Vinicius Junior are the trio’s foremost game-changers for Los Blancos. While Vinicius has displayed consistency since the commencement of the new season, the other two did not begin on the strongest note.
The Brazilian forward has 29 goal involvements in his last 27 Champions League appearances. Regarding the ongoing season, Vinicius boasts 13 goals and nine assists in his 20 matches. While the 24-year-old possesses a knack for rising to the occasion in crucial games, he cannot realistically shoulder the burden alone.
The promising development for Real Madrid is that Mbappe has begun to assimilate into the squad and is edging closer to rediscovering his prime form. Although currently injured, the French international has netted three goals in his previous four outings. He has been scoring sporadically, but the vital aspect is his increasing comfort in that central role.
Mbappe’s swiftness and his capacity to outmaneuver defenders are what set him apart as an extraordinary player, and gradually he is finding his rhythm. The strike against Atalanta, specifically, indicated that he is nearing his peak.
While Bellingham has been excelling in most areas, his goalscoring was initially lacking this season, a stark contrast to last season’s prolific performances. The English midfielder is operating in a notably deeper role this term, which evidently impacts his output. However, he remains a midfield scorer, and his barren spell has become a concern.
Fortunately, the Englishman has managed to reverse his fortunes. He has found the back of the net in each of his last six league fixtures. Bellingham undeniably appears to have regained his scoring touch, and with all three players flourishing, Los Blancos could evolve into an unstoppable force.
A robust and versatile bench
In spite of the injuries that have plagued Real Madrid during the current season, they still possess sufficient depth on their bench. While their starting lineup is brimming with luminaries, the substitutes have been equally crucial to their sustained achievements.
Carlo Ancelotti’s in-game changes frequently alter the trajectory of matches, and considering the significant contributions Brahim Diaz and Joselu made last season, such options become indispensable when required. While Joselu departed the club during the summer after a campaign where he delivered a decisive brace in the Champions League semi-final, Diaz remains a pivotal asset.
Though the Moroccan international is not a regular presence in the starting eleven, he constitutes a fundamental element of Ancelotti’s strategy. To date, he has only amassed four goal involvements, but those figures are likely to increase as he garners additional playing time in the latter stages.
Beyond Diaz, Ancelotti has the ability to summon Arda Guler and Endrick. Although the Turkish prodigy has been accumulating more minutes recently, the Brazilian international is yet to receive a consistent run in the team despite contributing three goals in just 160 minutes of senior action.
With Real Madrid competing virtually every three days in the latter stretch, their bench could undeniably influence the extent of their success across competitions. Apart from their offensive arsenal, the reigning La Liga champions also retain maestro Luka Modric as a substitute.
While Modric remains capable of starting on numerous occasions, the seasoned midfielder has transitioned into a rotational role this season. Given his wealth of expertise, Ancelotti can deploy him whenever circumstances become challenging for the Spanish powerhouse.
Real Madrid remain contenders across all fronts
Excluding the Copa del Rey and Supercopa de Espana, Los Blancos are very much in contention for both the UEFA Champions League and La Liga titles. Despite not beginning the new season ideally, they are firmly within striking distance.
They had the chance to lead La Liga, but a 3-3 stalemate against Rayo Vallecano last night undermined their ambitions. However, they remain a mere point adrift of Barcelona after 17 matches. Despite the setbacks faced in the initial half, they are formidable competitors for the league crown.
With their key players regaining form, they are poised to present the Catalan giants with a stern challenge for the title. Concurrently, the Champions League has proven to be the most worrisome competition for the Spanish titans, as they have dropped three out of six group matches. Advancing to the quarter-finals seems improbable, yet they currently occupy 20th and could still progress to the knockouts with fixtures against RB Salzburg and Brest ahead.
Real Madrid’s daunting task will be overcoming these games to advance further. Should they qualify for the knockouts, Los Blancos will approach without the baggage of prior performances. Crucially, elimination rounds historically bring out the best in the white-shirted ensemble, and they can undoubtedly thrive once again in their cherished competition.