Challenges and Changes: Real Madrid’s Tumultuous 2025 Season

The victory on Saturday against Sevilla does little to alleviate the challenges that Real Madrid has faced throughout a tumultuous 2025 season. The club and its first team are far removed from the glory days of the 2023-24 season, which feels much closer in memory than in sentiment. The five titles secured in that season starkly contrast with the total absence of trophies this year, which has already concluded on a competitive front. Historically, odd-numbered years tend to be less fruitful for Madrid.

2025 began with a devastating defeat in the Supercopa de España final held in Saudi Arabia, foreshadowing the disappointments to come. A 2-5 loss to Barcelona painted a grim picture, though it would soon become even bleaker as Barcelona snatched the remaining two national titles from Madrid. First, they claimed the Copa del Rey in a nail-biting final at La Cartuja in late April; shortly afterward, despite a hat-trick from Mbappé in Montjuïc, Madrid succumbed to another defeat against the Catalan side, leaving the La Liga title in the hands of Hansi Flick’s team.

The European campaign offered little respite. Madrid’s debut in the new format of the UEFA Champions League, where they were defending champions, was underwhelming. The team failed to reach the quarter-finals, resulting in a playoff against Manchester City. The two encounters with Pep Guardiola’s squad were among the few bright spots of the season, culminating in victories at both the Etihad Stadium and the Bernabéu, marking Mbappé’s first standout performance in front of the Madrid fans. Nevertheless, it became apparent early on that Madrid’s continental journey was destined for an early exit. Surviving a tense European derby thanks to Julián Álvarez’s penalty heroics at the Metropolitano, they were ultimately halted in the quarter-finals by Arsenal, who triumphed in both legs.

May witnessed two significant departures that signaled the end of an era for the club. Luka Modric and Carlo Ancelotti officially announced their exits from the Bernabéu, receiving a grand farewell in a home match against Real Sociedad. The impending transition was confirmed with Xabi Alonso’s appointment as the new manager just a day later.

The club then set its sights on the FIFA Club World Cup, an event that was anticipated to serve as a crowning achievement in a season that aimed for a total of seven titles but only managed two, both won in 2024 (the UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Cup). The team’s debut in the ambitious new tournament was promising, displaying the new coach’s influence from the outset. However, they suffered a disappointing semifinal defeat to an unstoppable PSG, exacerbated by critical individual errors at the start of the match.

Despite this, the experience of the World Cup seemed to lay a solid foundation. In the United States, new additions Huijsen and Trent made their debuts as the squad transitioned through a period of change, with Lucas Vázquez also departing alongside Modric. As Carreras and Mastantuono joined the ranks, the team began the 2025-26 season with vigor, claiming the league’s top spot by the third matchday. However, they lost this privileged position by the 14th matchday after a draw in Girona, confirming a decline that began a month earlier with their first Champions League defeat at Anfield. Following that match against Liverpool, the team recorded three losses and three draws over eight fixtures, slipping to second place in La Liga.

After a disappointing defeat against Celta on December 7, doubts began to surface regarding Xabi Alonso’s suitability as manager. He had previously weathered crises such as the derby loss on September 27 and the controversial substitution of Vinicius in the Clásico on October 26, both of which were met with the club’s support. However, the loss to Celta undermined confidence in Alonso, placing him in a precarious position. The recent victories in their last three matches against Alavés, Sevilla, and Talavera have done little to alleviate the pressure, as the team’s performance remains far from the expectations set by their World Cup participation and the current season’s start.

Additionally, the club is navigating turbulent times on the institutional front. As preparations for a change in the club’s ownership model are underway, information remains scarce amidst rampant speculation. Real Madrid is also embroiled in a direct confrontation with Barcelona concerning the Negreira case, which Florentino Pérez labeled as “the biggest scandal in football history” during a Christmas gathering with the media on December 15. Joan Laporta responded promptly, accusing Madrid of suffering from “acute Barcelonitis” and launching severe criticisms against Real Madrid TV, the club’s spokesperson regarding refereeing issues in recent seasons, which have also attracted harsh critiques of both the RFEF and La Liga. Meanwhile, the club continues to face off against UEFA regarding the Super League, with recent judicial rulings favoring Madrid in a conflict expected to be a protracted one.