Real Madrid's 2024-25 season hasn't been too bad so far. It's November and they're second in La Liga, six points behind Barcelona, with a game in hand.
In the Champions League, they are in the middle of the table with 6 points after 4 matches - equal with Bayern Munich, AC Milan and Atletico Madrid. The chance of qualifying for the group stage is still intact for Los Blancos.
But this is Real Madrid, where second place isn’t good enough, let alone mid-table. The overall quality of the team has been alarming for Real Madrid since the start of the season. They were weak in 1-1 draws with Real Mallorca and Atletico, failing to create a single big chance in either game, with xGs of 0.6 and 0.76 respectively.
Then came two consecutive home defeats in 10 days, 0-4 against Barcelona and 1-3 against AC Milan. These defeats put the "White Vultures" into a complete crisis mode.
There are still unresolved issues in defence, midfield and attack. A series of injuries, most notably anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries to both Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao, have left the team short on defensive personnel.
There is no suitable replacement for Carvajal, with substitute Lucas Vazquez also sidelined for a month. At centre-back, the departure of captain Nacho in the summer means Antonio Rudiger is the most reliable option, until David Alaba returns to full fitness.
According to ESPN, Real understood the weaknesses in their squad but did not immediately fix them. Coach Carlo Ancelotti did not reveal it to the media, but sources said that his requests to strengthen personnel in the last transfer window were ignored.
Kylian Mbappe and teenage striker Endrick were the only summer additions, with a deal for defender Leny Yoro trumped by Manchester United, with Real Madrid unwilling to meet the financial demands.
The lack of available replacements for Ancelotti means the rest of Real's squad has been overused. Rudiger has played 997 (out of a possible 1,080) minutes in La Liga this season. Militao played 940 minutes before being injured against Osasuna on 9 November.
Many sources within the club believe that Militao’s injury is the result of overexertion. A year earlier, the Brazilian international had also torn his anterior cruciate ligament in his knee.
In midfield, the "White Vultures" have no shortage of quality options with Jude Bellingham, Valverde, Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni. However, none of them can replicate the skillset of Toni Kroos. As a result, 39-year-old midfielder Luka Modric has to constantly work hard. Tchouameni, on the other hand, has not been in good form, is under pressure from fans, and is now injured.
Up front, Mbappe failed to impress and spread his negativity to his teammates. Their collective defensive solidity was no longer there.
In their four Champions League games so far, Real Madrid's opponents have had 26 shots on target. Only six of the 36 teams have conceded more in the competition.
Real Madrid are said to be reluctant to look to strengthen their defence in January. However, there is recognition that signing the calibre of players the club normally targets will not be possible until next summer, by which time Trent Alexander-Arnold and Alphonso Davies will be available on free transfers.
