Early morning September 18 (Vietnam time), Real Madrid will begin their journey to defend their Champions League title with a match against Stuttgart at Bernabeu Stadium.
It was normal as in previous seasons they were in a similar position, but this 2024-2025 season, if they succeed in keeping the European throne, Los Blancos will continue to write their name in the historical milestones that have been quite long.
Real Madrid was the team that won the first European Cup (1956), the first team to win the European Cup 5 years in a row, the team that won the Champions League in the transition season between 2 centuries, the first and only team to successfully defend the Champions League title, the first and only team to win the Champions League 3 seasons in a row...
Up to now, Real Madrid is the only team that has achieved the above. In the future, there may be a team that also reaches a certain milestone, but given the nature of the Champions League, people also believe that it will take quite a while.
And while waiting for history to choose a name, history will also ask whether Real Madrid will continue to make… history? History with the first season taking place in a new format, eliminating the group stage to compete in a league format.
So, it is also a journey to defend the title but this time the feeling will be very different. At least they will have to play 2 more matches and compare points and goal difference with 35 other teams to compete directly for a ticket to the round of 16.
If they are not in the Top 8 but are between 9th and 24th, they will have to play 2 more matches in the play-off round. If they are ranked 25th or lower, there is no chance of a Europa League ticket.
With the level of the Royal team, the prospect of being in the bottom group is something no one could have imagined, but whether they have to play 2 more matches or 4 more matches to get a ticket to the knockout round, coach Carlo Ancelotti has already felt the pressure.
“We looked at what we could do, but it was not within our reach. The schedule was too tight,” said the Italian coach.
“A new tournament is coming and we don’t know how it will be. It may or may not be more entertaining. But what is certain is that we have two more games.
If the governing bodies don’t start thinking that players are getting injured because they play too much, we’re going to have a problem. I’m asking for a reduction in the number of matches to make the tournaments more attractive.”
In the league stage of this season's Champions League, "The White Vultures" will meet Stuttgart (home), Lille (away), Dortmund - last season's final opponent, AC Milan (home), Liverpool, Atalanta - the reigning Europa League champions (also away), Salzburg (home) and Brest (away).
With the format of 4 home matches, 4 random away matches, the head-to-head coefficient is no longer taken into account, so like all opponents, Real Madrid needs to win as much as possible, score as many goals as possible, and concede as few goals as possible.
This season, Los Blancos have added Kylian Mbappe to be highly appreciated for their attacking power, but will still need courage and experience in the back line, especially when Toni Kroos has retired.
Will the new blood from Arda Guler, Brahim Diaz, Endrick and even Mbappe be able to revive the so-called "Champions League DNA" in time to help Real Madrid make history?
