Eliminated in the cup long ago, four points behind Barcelona in the league and in the Champions League Manchester City in front of the chest: Real Madrid is in crisis, there is a threat of a season without a title.
Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa was emphatically defiant. “No one gives up here. This is Real Madrid”he said after the 0-1 defeat in the derby against Getafe FC on Monday evening. In the table, the capital club is now four points behind arch-rivals FC Barcelona. “We can catch up if we are four points behind and we will fight for it.”said Arbeloa.
The last two bankruptcies in a row were in May 2019
The “Royals” suffered two defeats in a row in Spain’s La Liga for the first time since May 2019; on the previous matchday, the second-place team had lost 2-1 at CA Osasuna. For the team from the Madrid suburbs, it was their first win after 18 years at Real.
Meanwhile, FC Barcelona ended its crisis in results and, after the 0-4 defeat in the cup at Atletico Madrid and the surprising 1-2 defeat at FC Girona, achieved two wins in a row and moved past the table.
Of course, the championship is far from decided, there are still twelve match days left. But Real shouldn’t allow any more slip-ups.
Malice and criticism: Spanish press tears Real apart
Spain’s press covered the team with malice and criticism. “The White Ko!”headlined “Mundo Deportivo”: “Real Madrid is stumbling in the championship and said goodbye to the La Liga title on the first Monday of March. There is still a lot of time until the end of the championship, but when you look at the Blaugranas and the Royals, it is as unrealistic to believe that Real Madrid can win La Liga as to believe that they will win the lottery.”
“Marca” wrote: “The next disaster at the Bernabeu! An unprecedented defeat, Real Madrid gives up the league against Getafe.” And “Sport” saw “The next ridiculous thing. Madrid is in crisis.”
Real coach Alvaro Arbeloa
And “AS” also writes off the championship: “This Madrid is no longer capable of anything. The end of the Arbeloa effect!” The suspicion inevitably arises that “that Arbeloa may not be up to the task.”
In this form against Man City only outsiders
The coach has been in office since January 12th, replacing Xabi Alonso. The former professional had previously coached the second team. He got off to a really bad start. In the first game under his direction, Real lost 3-2 to second division club Albacete Balompie in the round of 16 of the Spanish Cup.
Now Real is even threatened with a season without a title. The round of 16 begins in just two weeks Champions League and there the “Royals” have to play against the English top team Manchester City ran. And in their current form they are more of an outsider.
Mbappé sorely missed
Kylian Mbappé is currently sorely missed. While his colleagues struggled against Getafe, the star striker was in his native France to have his knee, which had been damaged for a long time, examined. No surgery is planned for the time being; the injury, which Real described as a “knee sprain”, should be treated conservatively. It is unclear whether the 27-year-old Mbappé can play against Manchester City (March 11th and 17th).
If this all happens, then it would be Real’s second season without a single title in a row – a disaster from the perspective of the prestigious club and certainly the end for coach Arbeloa.
