Is Real Madrid Falling Off? The Meringues Face a Disastrous Champions
Readers might not associate the word disaster with Real Madrid, a club that has qualified uninterruptedly for every UEFA Champions League since 1997, aside from a single season that ended a longer streak of tournament qualification. Moreover, no European club has won more Champions Cups than the Meringues, who have lifted the trophy a record 15 times. It is extremely rare, then, to see a team of this caliber fail to finish among the top eight positions in the first stage of the Champions League. Fans may be wondering whether the inner workings of their favorite club, home to World Cup winner Kylian Mbappé, are finally showing cracks at the administrative level.
The Champions League now features 36 teams, with the top eight qualifying directly for the round of 16, while clubs ranked ninth through 24th advance to a playoff round to determine the remaining eight participants. This system, known as the Swiss Model, was implemented in 2024 to expand participation and increase the number of matches. In this context, Real Madrid has struggled to thrive. Although the club sits second in La Liga, it currently occupies an uncharacteristic ninth place in the Champions League standings, just behind Manchester City. This follows a season in which they reached only the quarter-finals of the same competition. While qualification for the Champions League is admirable for most clubs, for a team like Real Madrid, ninth place is neither common nor acceptable given its expectations and roster quality.
Real Madrid’s position comes after a turbulent 4-2 defeat to Benfica, a team managed by former Manchester United boss José Mourinho. The unexpected loss raised doubts about Real Madrid’s manager, Alvaro Arbeloa’s capabilities of leading the team to victory, and set eyes on Benfica’s manager as a possible substitution candidate. Star player Mbappé questioned the team’s consistency in the face of the recent results. Despite the setback, the Meringues still have a path to redemption, with playoff matches against Benfica scheduled for February 17th and 25th.
Many of the questions surrounding Real Madrid’s performance remain unanswered. At this stage of the season, there is still time for momentum to shift in their favor. With numerous matches still ahead and a La Liga title race within reach, the campaign is far from settled. Another clash between Los Blancos and Benfica will be closely watched, as it may offer clearer insight into where this team truly stands. For now, fans can only hope the rematch delivers another compelling chapter in an increasingly intriguing season.
