In the early morning of September 18 (Vietnam time), Real Madrid club will begin their journey to defend the Champions League title with a match against Stuttgart at the Bernabeu.
It is normal that they have been in the same position in previous seasons, but this 2024-2025 season, if they succeed in holding the European throne, Los Blancos will continue to write their names in historical milestones that have been quite long.
Real Madrid is the first European Cup winner (1956), the first team to win the European Cup for five consecutive years, the Champions League champion in the transition season between two centuries, the first and only team to successfully defend the Champions League title, the first and only team to win the Champions League for three consecutive seasons...
Up to now, Real Madrid is the only team to do the above. In the future, there may be a team that will reach a certain milestone, but with 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 question 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.
Therefore, 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 compete for points and goal difference with 35 other teams to compete directly for tickets to the round of 16.
In case 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 will be no lucky ticket to the Europa League.
With the class of the Royal team, the prospect of being in the bottom group is something that no one thinks about, but whether they have to play 2 more matches or 4 matches to get a ticket to the knockout round, coach Carlo Ancelotti has soon felt the pressure.
We have looked for what we can do, but it is not within our reach. The schedule is too strict, said the Italian coach.
A new tournament is coming and we dont know how it will go. It may or may not be more entertaining. But the thing is for sure, we have two more games.
If the management agencies don't start thinking that the players are injured because they play too much, we will have problems. I request to reduce the number of matches to have more attractive tournaments.
In the league stage of this season's Champions League, the "White Vultures" will meet Stuttgart (home), Lille (away), Dortmund - opponents in the final last season, AC Milan (home), Liverpool, Atalanta - reigning Europa League champions (all away), Salzburg (home) and Brest (away).
With the format of playing 4 home matches, 4 away matches randomly, the head-to-head coefficient is no longer taken into account, so like all opponents, Real Madrid need to win as many as possible, score as many goals as possible, and concede as few goals as possible.
Los Blancos have added Kylian Mbappe this season to be highly appreciated for his attacking power, but will still need courage and experience in the back line, especially since Toni Kroos has retired.
Will the new blood flow from Arda Guler, Brahim Diaz, Endrick and even Mbappe promptly revive the so-called DNA Champions League to help Real Madrid make history?
