While Real Madrid might have relinquished their La Liga crown during the 2022/23 campaign as they eventually fell 10 points adrift of El Clasico rivals Barcelona, Los Blancos came roaring back in a sensational fashion last season.
Making more domestic history as they got their hands on a 36th La Liga title, Carlo Ancelotti’s superstar squad once again tore up the record books.
Crowned Champions League winners on June 1st following a 2-0 win against German giants Borussia Dortmund at Wembley, Real Madrid further cemented their spot as Europe’s ultimate poster boys.
Remarkably suffering just a single defeat from any of their 38 La Liga appearances last season, the former AC Milan boss has his sights firmly set on making more history.
Getting the defence of their domestic crown underway on August 18th as they travel to Mallorca, is there anyone across Spain’s elite that can offer Ancelotti’s camp a real challenge during the 2024/25 campaign.
Mbappe joins a superstar attack in Madrid
Watching England international Jude Bellingham make an immediate impact after completing a £100million move from Borussia Dortmund last summer, Ancelotti had an abundance of attacking superstars at his disposal.
With the duo of Bellingham and Brazilian icon Vinicius Junior registering 34 combined La Liga goals last season, there is no doubt that the reigning Spanish giants have been handed a heavyweight boost.
While French superstars Kylian Mbappe might have failed to make much of a statement over in Germany this summer as Les Bleus eventually crashed out at the semi-final stage, the now-former PSG talisman has completed a blockbuster move to the Spanish capital.
Officially unveiled as Los Blancos’ new icon on Tuesday and now in possession of Madrid’s famous number nine jersey, the future Ballon d’Or winner joins an already stacked attacking roster at the Bernabeu.
With the France skipper making it clear that a maiden Champions League medal is at the top of his agenda, Mbappe’s arrival in Madrid certainly sent major shockwaves across La Liga’s elite.
Defensive steel the backbone to Los Blancos’ success
While the record-breaking Bellingham might have stolen plenty of Los Blancos’ headlines during their iconic double-winning campaign last season, a huge part of Madrid’s success was thanks to their rugged performances at the back.
With deputy goalkeeper and Ukraine international Andriy Lunin doing an astonishing job between the sticks, Ancelotti was vocal about the role that his defensive unit played at the Bernabeu.
Coming away unscathed on June 1st as they were crowned Champions League winners for a 15th time thanks to a 2-0 victory against Borussia Dortmund at Wembley, Madrid gained a fearsome reputation for their defensive steel.
In fact, shipping just 26 goals in their 38 La Liga appearances last season, Ancelotti’s squad also conceded 11 goals less than any other club across Spain’s elite.
Likewise, recording five clean sheets in their final six top-flight showdowns last season, Madrid will also be excited to welcome back David Alaba from a long-term knee injury this summer.
The Bernabeu – Spain’s ultimate fortress
Embarking on what was a real fairytale last season as they only further underlined their status as Europe’s ultimate poster boy, Madrid have certainly turned the Bernabeu into an impenetrable fortress.
Mustering 22 points from their final eight La Liga appearances in the Spanish capital, Ancelotti’s camp did not suffer a single top-flight defeat in front of their own supporters throughout last year’s history-making romp.
Claiming El Clasico bragging rights back on April 21st as they secured a pulsating 3-2 victory against historic rivals Barcelona, Los Blancos also conceded just a pair of goals at the Bernabeu over the final three months of the 2023/24 campaign.
Likewise, aside from a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Villarreal back in April of last year, that is remarkably the only La Liga loss that Madrid have suffered at the Bernabeu from any of their previous 42 consecutive appearances.
With that remarkable hometown purple patch stemming all the way back to March 2022, Ancelotti’s side have also not suffered consecutive La Liga defeats in the Spanish capital over the past five and a half years.
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