Real Madrid celebrated their 117th season in the top level of Spanish football last season, and their 90th consecutive season in the top flight. For the first time since the 2009–10 season, they concluded the season without a trophy. Luis Suarez clinched Atletico's comeback victory against Valladolid in the 67th minute of Matchday 38, securing his team's 11th league title. Real's own 2-1 comeback was insufficient to prevent their rivals from winning the league. It would have been a painful blow to present Atletico the title on a plate after leading the league for a total of 27 weeks. Sergio Ramos, the club's captain, followed Zidane in leaving the club.
Also Read | 16 Years of El Capitan: Ramos at Real Madrid
Real Madrid will be hoping to improve on their second-place position in La Liga in the 2020/21 season, despite a relatively quiet summer. Despite a string of upsets during the summer, Madrid will be looking to reclaim domestic supremacy with the new manager in charge. In terms of incomings, the 13-time Champions League champions have been noticeably quiet. Long-serving captain and club legend Sergio Ramos, on the other hand, left for Paris Saint-Germain after failing to receive a new deal from the club. Raphael Varane's move to Manchester United has also been shattering to the Madridistas if the 35-year-departure old's was not enough to distress them.
Transfers: 2021 Summer Window
Incomings:
· David Alaba (Free Transfer) from Bayern Munich
Outgoings:
· Brahim Diaz (Loan) to AC Milan
· Sergio Ramos (Free Agent) to Paris Saint-Germain
· Raphael Varane (£41 million Transfer Fee) to Manchester United
The season ahead:
This current Madrid squad is best defined as being in transition. Modric and Kroos' aging legs are unlikely to leave as much of an impression as they have in the past, but you can bet they'll play some spectacular football as long as they can still breathe. Both Ramos and Varane have departed. The acquisition of David Alaba from Bayern Munich is positive, but the Austrian is a natural left-back who has only played as a center-back on rare occasions. With Marcelo approaching the end of his career and Ferland Mendy having struggled in the attack, Alaba should be Ancelotti's first-choice left-back next season. Eder Militao and Nacho are the two players who could form the defensive duo for the coming season. This is a group still brimming with talent, not to mention rumors of a particular young guy named Kylian on the way.
With Barcelona preparing for their first La Liga season since 2003 without Lionel Messi, it's difficult to predict how Ronald Koeman's team would do without their icon. Los Blancos might benefit greatly from this. They will always be among the championship contenders, if not the top-four challengers, regardless of the squad. Overcoming Simeone's Atletico Madrid may be more difficult for Ancelotti's team. Real's late title quest was thwarted by a run of three consecutive league victories to end the 2020/21 season. However, last season’s close miss offers Carlo Ancelotti, the new manager, something to work with this season. Ancelotti’s side starts their season against Deportivo Alaves away from home. They face Levante next, followed by Real Betis. They will play their first home game of the season against Celta Vigo on 12th September. The first El Clasico will be hosted by Barcelona on 24th October.
Predictions:
La Liga – Runners Up
Champions League – Quarter-finals
Spanish Super Cup – Finalists
Predicted line up for the coming season (4-3-3):
Goalkeeper – Thibaut Courtois
Defenders – Dani Carvajal, Nacho, Eder Militao, David Alaba
Midfielders – Luka Modric, Casemiro, Toni Kroos
Forwards – Marco Asensio, Karim Benzema, Eden Hazard
