It was always going to be difficult for Real Madrid to match their success from the 2023-24 campaign, but there is no getting away from the fact that 2024-25 will go down as a disappointing season for the capital giants.
Los Blancos did manage to win the UEFA Super Cup back in August, but they have fallen short in La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Champions League, with Barcelona proving to be the best side in Spain this term.
It is the first time since 2021 that Real Madrid, who have appointed Xabi Alonso as their new manager on a three-year contract, have ended a campaign without a major trophy.
Here, Sports Mole proves an in-depth review of Real Madrid's season, which has also seen Carlo Ancelotti leave as head coach, with the Italian now officially taking charge of the Brazilian national team.
SEASON OVERVIEW
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti pictured on April 8, 2025© Imago
Final league position: 2nd
Copa del Rey: Runners-up
Spanish Super Cup: Runners-up
UEFA Super Cup: Winners
Champions League: Quarter-finals
Top scorer: Kylian Mbappe (43)
Most assists: Vinicius Junior (17)
Real Madrid's blockbuster deal for Mbappe meant that confidence was high ahead of the new season; after all, Los Blancos had added arguably the best player in the world to a squad that won a La Liga and Champions League double last term.
However, Ancelotti's side drew two of their opening three league games of the season, and finding their top performance level proved to be a problem throughout the campaign, especially during notable defeats to Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao in the first half of the season.
Real Madrid would only win once in La Liga between January 25 and February 23, which saw them lose more crucial ground, while their 4-3 defeat at Barcelona on May 11 all but ended their chances of finishing at the top of the pile.
Los Blancos also lost out to Barcelona in the final of the Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup, but it was the manner of their Champions League exit that was perhaps the most disappointing part of their season.
After a shaky league phase, which saw them suffer three defeats, the reigning European champions beat Manchester City and then Atletico Madrid in the knockout rounds, but they had no answer to Arsenal.
Indeed, the Gunners beat them 3-0 at home and 2-1 away to secure a 5-1 aggregate success, and it is understood that the team's Champions League exit in those circumstances played a major role in the club deciding to replace Ancelotti as head coach.
LA LIGA STATS
Wins: 26 (2nd)
Draws: 6 (=9th)
Losses: 6 (=12th)
Goals scored: 78 (2nd)
Goals conceded: 38 (16th)
HOW DID IT COMPARE TO LAST SEASON?
Real Madrid players line up before the Champions League final on June 1, 2024© Imago
Real Madrid won La Liga last season, while they also triumphed in the Champions League and Spanish Super Cup, making it a trio of trophies during a stunning campaign for the capital giants.
Los Blancos were not as impressive in the Copa del Rey last term, only reaching the round of 16, but that is the only competition that Real Madrid improved in during the 2024-25 campaign.
Vinicius was actually Real Madrid's leading goalscorer last season with 24, 19 fewer than Mbappe has managed this term, but the team were a more coherent unit in 2023-24.
Real Madrid won 29, drew eight and lost just one of their 38 La Liga matches last season, finishing with 95 points, but they only managed to gather 84 in 2024-25, suffering six defeats in the process.
PLAYER OF THE SEASON: KYLIAN MBAPPE
Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe on May 18, 2025© Iconsport
Whether Mbappe has made Real Madrid a better team is a subject that divides opinion, but from a personal point of view, it has been a glorious first season at Bernabeu for the France international.
Mbappe has ended the campaign with 43 goals and four assists in 56 appearances in all competitions, and he now holds the record for the most goals in a debut season for the capital giants.
It has been far from the season that the 26-year-old would have wanted considering that Real Madrid won a La Liga and Champions League double last term, but his contribution to the cause has been immense.
Federico Valverde deserves a special mention, as the Uruguay international has also had an inspiring campaign, but Mbappe has been Real Madrid's star individual this term, and he has also finished as La Liga's leading goalscorer this term (31), four ahead of Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski (27).
STANDOUT RESULT: ARSENAL 3-0 REAL MADRID
Declan Rice celebrates scoring for Arsenal on April 8, 2025© Imago
Arsenal sent shockwaves around European football when they recorded a 3-0 victory over Real Madrid in the first leg of their quarter-final, and it was a result that came as a huge surprise.
Not too many had picked Arsenal to beat Real Madrid in the final eight of the tournament, and there was not a great deal in the first leg of their contest, but two Declan Rice free kicks, which came before a Mikel Merino goal, placed the North London club in an incredible position in terms of reaching the semi-finals.
Mbappe & Co. were left stunned by what occurred at the Emirates Stadium, and Real Madrid could not recover in the second leg of the clash, going down 2-1 at home, which saw them suffer a 5-1 aggregate defeat.
For all of the disappointment surrounding their La Liga campaign, the Champions League is the trophy that the team really wanted to defend this term, and it was a huge surprise that Arsenal were the team to disarm them.
BEST MOMENT: MAN CITY 2-3 REAL MADRID
Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring against Manchester City on February 19, 2025© Imago
Real Madrid, like Man City, had underwhelmed in the league phase of the Champions League, but Los Blancos showed that they still a force to be reckoned with when they beat the Citizens in the knockout round playoffs.
Ancelotti's side sent out a statement courtesy of their performance in the first leg at the Etihad Stadium, ultimately recording a 3-2 victory, with Mbappe, Brahim Diaz and Jude Bellingham on the scoresheet.
It was a result and performance that made many people place Real Madrid as the favourites for the Champions League once again, especially after they finished the job at home against Pep Guardiola's side.
Another Premier League club would ultimately dump them out of the competition, though, with poor performances in both legs of their last-eight clash with Arsenal leading to them being eliminated sooner than expected.
TOP PRIORITY FOR SUMMER
Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold pictured on May 11, 2025© Imago
Real Madrid have already secured the services of central defender Dean Huijsen this summer, with a deal for the Bournemouth star recently being announced, and he will bolster an area that was rocked by injuries late in the campaign.
Trent Alexander-Arnold's arrival from Liverpool is expected to be confirmed in the near future, with both players due to be available to represent the Spanish giants at the upcoming Club World Cup.
A new attacker will be required if Rodrygo moves on, and it does seem likely that the Brazil international will depart, with clubs from the Premier League believed to be keen on his services.
Luka Modric's departure on a free transfer will also open up a space in midfield, with Los Blancos said to be keeping a close eye on the options available in that area, so it is set to be a busy transfer window for the capital giants.
FINAL VERDICT
Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti on March 12, 2025© Imago
Much was expected from Real Madrid this season, as they added Mbappe to a squad which won a La Liga and Champions League double last season, so it has been an underwhelming campaign for Los Blancos.
The UEFA Super Cup was secured at the start of August, but Real Madrid fell short in La Liga and the Copa del Rey, losing out to Barcelona in both of those competitions, in addition to being comfortably eliminated in the quarter-finals of the Champions League by Arsenal, and that exit made big waves among senior figures at the club.
As mentioned, the team's struggles against Arsenal played a major role in the club deciding to move on from Ancelotti, and Alonso will be the manager to oversee a new era.
Overall, it has been a disappointing campaign for Los Blancos, but the future already looks very bright, and with more business in the transfer market expected, there is every chance that the team, under the leadership of excellent coach Alonso, could be back on top of Spanish and European football at the end of 2025-26.
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