Real Madrid Endure "Catastrophic" Year in 2025
Real Madrid experienced a challenging year in 2025, failing to secure any major titles.
The year began with a 2-5 defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final held in Saudi Arabia. Disappointments continued with further losses to Barcelona in both the Copa del Rey and La Liga races.
In the UEFA Champions League, the team exited at the quarter-final stage after losing both legs to Arsenal. May saw the departures of star player Luka Modric and coach Carlo Ancelotti, with Xabi Alonso subsequently appointed as the new manager. Following this, the team lost to Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup.
The 2025-26 season started with Real Madrid leading La Liga, but a decline in performance put Xabi Alonso's position under scrutiny, particularly after a loss to Celta on December 7. Institutionally, Florentino Perez described the 'Negreira case' on December 15 as "the biggest scandal in football history," which prompted Joan Laporta to accuse Real Madrid of "acute Barcelona-phobia." The club also continues its dispute with UEFA regarding the European Super League.
