Real Madrid’s Gruelling 2025

Real Madrid concludes a punishing 2025 calendar year with a sobering reality: despite playing a club-record 67 official matches, the trophy cabinet remains bare. This dry spell stands in stark contrast to their glittering 2024 campaign, where the Spanish giants secured five major honors, leaving the Bernabéu faithful in a state of profound frustration.

The year was defined by "near-miss" heartbreak, as Los Blancos finished as runners-up in the Copa del Rey, the Supercopa de España, and LaLiga. Continental disappointment added to the gloom, with a Champions League exit at the hands of Arsenal and a humbling 4-0 thrashing by PSG in the Club World Cup semi-finals.

Xabi Alonso’s tactical shift since taking the helm has yielded a statistical uptick, with his win percentage rising to an impressive 75.2% compared to Carlo Ancelotti’s 69.4%. However, these improved metrics have yet to translate into silverware, placing the young manager’s tenure under intense scrutiny despite the team's high scoring output of 142 goals.

A final 2-0 victory over Sevilla offers a glimmer of hope as the squad enters a much-needed winter break. Trailing Barcelona by just four points in the current LaLiga standings, Alonso is banking on a rejuvenated roster to turn statistical dominance into tangible glory when they return to action this January.