Real Madrid and Carlo Ancelotti: a season of mixed results
The Italian tactician guided Real Madrid through a season marked by contrasts, finishing with a total of 78 points and the fewest points among his four campaigns at the helm. This result stood out not for the final classification, where Madrid placed second, but for the uneven performance across league fixtures. The Qatar World Cup window shaped much of the narrative, and among the four seasons Ancelotti spent in charge, this particular campaign produced the lowest points tally in league play.
What was meant to be a seamless continuation of Ancelotti’s project found him navigating a challenging domestic phase. Madrid entered the World Cup break with momentum after notable wins, yet the league schedule yielded setbacks before the match against Barcelona. The team cruised to a 3-1 victory at the Santiago Bernabéu on matchday nine over a Barcelona side undergoing regeneration, a performance that suggested Madrid’s superiority in the domestic arena. A subsequent win against Sevilla at the same venue reinforced that impression. But two turbulent results against Girona and Rayo Vallecano before the World Cup interruption interrupted the progress and temporarily disrupted the lead in the standings.
In 2023, Madrid also faced the Spanish Super Cup on neutral ground and experienced a heavy defeat in the final against Barcelona. The Club World Cup campaign, by contrast, delivered silverware. Between these competitions, league points were sometimes dropped, including tricky results at El Madrigal and at home to Real Sociedad, as well as a tough away fixture in Mallorca that tested the squad’s resilience.
As the Champions League rejoined the calendar in the knockout phase, Madrid encountered further hurdles during the season’s tense run. They could not secure victories against Atletico Madrid at the Bernabéu nor against Real Betis at Villamarín, contributing to a late-season deficit. By the time matchday 26 arrived, Madrid trailed Barcelona by nine points, and a 2-1 defeat at Camp Nou sealed a difficult stretch that summerizing the end of the league campaign.
The Whites closed the season in second place after a dramatic late outcome at Villarreal, where a late goal by the hosts altered the standings and denied Atletico Madrid the chance to move ahead. The final tally stood at 78 points, one more than rivals Atletico and ten behind Barcelona. The campaign remained a disappointment in the eyes of many observers, given the strong squad and high expectations.
Across other seasons under Ancelotti, Madrid typically accumulated more points. In his first year in charge, the 2013-2014 season culminated in the Decima, highlighted by Bale’s decisive goal in the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona. Madrid had led the table on several occasions, but a late stumble against Valencia with three games to go allowed Atletico Madrid to seize the title. The finish saw Madrid in third with 87 points, tied with Barcelona and three behind champions Atlético, as the team recorded 27 wins, six draws, and five losses.
The 2014-2015 campaign presented a harsher arc. Madrid’s league form dipped in the crucial stages despite wins in European Super Cup and Club World Cup events. The Spanish Super Cup fell from their grasp, and the Champions League run ended in the semi-finals. A long stretch of 22 straight wins, including 12 in the league, could not sustain the title race as Barcelona ultimately claimed the treble. Madrid finished second with 92 points, two behind Barcelona, tallying 30 wins, two draws, and six losses.
Carlo Ancelotti returned to Real Madrid for the 2021-22 season and delivered a historic double, capturing the league and the European Cup. Madrid dominated the domestic campaign, declaring themselves champions with five games remaining. They closed with 86 points, thirteen clear of Barcelona in second place, and extended their season with a triumphant run in Europe, finishing with 26 wins, eight draws, and four losses.
By the close of the latest campaign, Real Madrid ended with a draw against Athletic Club, marking what many observed as their strongest regular season demonstrating both resilience and room for growth under Ancelotti. The season concluded with 24 wins, six draws, and eight losses, leaving fans and analysts weighing the highs against the persistent challenges.
All assessments point to a coaching tenure characterized by peaks of brilliance and moments of struggle, with each season contributing to the broader narrative of Madrid’s pursuit of domestic dominance and continental glory. The story remains one of balance between a storied club’s expectations and the realities of modern football management. (Goal)