Challenges Faced by Real Madrid in 2025

The victory on Saturday against Sevilla does little to alleviate the tumultuous experiences Real Madrid has faced in 2025. The club and its first team are far removed from the glory days of the 2023-2024 season, which feel much closer in time than in sentiment. The five titles obtained during that season starkly contrast with the total absence of trophies this year, which has already concluded on the competitive front. Historically, odd-numbered years tend to be less productive for Madrid.

The year began with a painful defeat in the Supercopa de España final held in Saudi Arabia, hinting at the challenges that were yet to come. The 2-5 loss to Barcelona painted a grim picture, though it became even darker as Barcelona subsequently seized two additional national titles from Madrid. First, the Copa del Rey was lost in a heart-wrenching final at La Cartuja at the end of April; soon after, despite a hat-trick from Mbappé at Montjuic, another defeat to Barcelona handed the La Liga title to Hansi Flick’s team.

The European campaign did not fare much better. Madrid’s debut in the new format of the Champions League, where they were defending champions, was lackluster. The team failed to reach the quarter-finals, thus facing a playoff against Manchester City. That double encounter with Pep Guardiola’s side was among the few redeeming moments of the season, with Madrid securing victories at both the Etihad and the Bernabéu, marking a significant night for Mbappé. Unfortunately, Madrid’s continental journey seemed destined to end prematurely. Despite surviving a volatile European derby, thanks to Julián Álvarez’s penalty heroics at the Metropolitano, they were eliminated by Arsenal, who triumphed in both legs.

May saw two significant farewells, marking the end of an era for Madrid. Luka Modric and Carlo Ancelotti officially announced their departures from the Bernabéu club, receiving a grand farewell in a home match against Real Sociedad. The anticipated transition was confirmed with the announcement of Xabi Alonso taking over as head coach just a day later.

The club then set its sights on the Club World Cup, a tournament expected to cap off a season that aimed for seven titles but only yielded two—both in 2024 (the UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Cup). The team’s performance in the ambitious new FIFA tournament started promisingly, showcasing the new coach’s influence from day one. However, they suffered a shocking semifinal defeat to an unstoppable PSG, exacerbated by several critical individual errors early in the match.

Despite this, the experience gained from the Club World Cup seemed a solid foundation. In the United States, Huijsen and Trent, two new faces of the team, participated, alongside the departure of Lucas Vázquez and the arrivals of Carreras and Mastantuono. With these four newcomers, the team had a vibrant start to the 2025-26 season, reaching the top of the league by the third matchday. However, after losing that privileged position on matchday 14 due to a draw against Girona, the team confirmed a decline that had begun a month earlier at Anfield, where they faced their first Champions League defeat. Since that match against Liverpool, the team suffered three losses and three draws in eight games, resulting in a drop to second place in the league.

Following one of these matches, the defeat against Celta on December 7, doubts began to surface about Xabi Alonso’s suitability as head coach. The Basque manager had navigated through several crises, including a derby loss on September 27 and a controversial substitution of Vinicius during the Clásico on October 26, but the club supported him during both situations. However, the loss to Celta undermined confidence in Xabi, placing him in a precarious position. The team’s victories in their last three matches (against Alavés and Sevilla in La Liga, and Talavera in the Copa) have not eased the pressure, as the team’s performances remain far below the expectations set by the Club World Cup and the start of the current season.

On the institutional front, the club is also facing significant upheaval. As preparations are underway for a change in the club’s corporate model, for which there is considerable speculation but little information, Real Madrid has found itself embroiled in a direct confrontation with Barcelona over the ‘Negreira case,’ which Florentino Pérez labeled during a Christmas luncheon with the media as “the biggest scandal in the history of football.” Joan Laporta quickly responded by accusing Madrid of suffering from “acute Barcelonaitis” and harshly criticized Real Madrid TV, which has been the club’s mouthpiece regarding arbitration situations in recent seasons, targeting criticisms that extend to both RFEF and LaLiga. Simultaneously, the club continues its conflict with UEFA regarding the Super League, with recent judicial rulings favoring Madrid’s interests in a long-standing dispute.