Despite a fairly spectacular collapse in form, there is no need for Real Madrid to panic – but there is certainly cause for serious concern.
Just a couple of weeks ago, Los Blancos were luxuriating in a record-breaking 40-game, nine-month unbeaten run which had seemingly set them on course for a spectacular treble. Now, however, they have won just one of their last five games, been dumped out of the Copa del Rey by Celta Vigo and seen their lead at the top of La Liga reduced to just one point.
Crisis? Not yet. Just as Madrid’s long run of success didn’t mean they were unbeatable, neither does their recent slump mean they are destined for failure. The truth, as ever, lies between those two extremes, and Los Blancos possess more than enough quality to revive their season.
There are, however, plenty of reasons to be worried, not least a lengthy injury list which has deprived suddenly under-pressure boss Zinedine Zidane of several key players, including marauding full-backs Marcelo and Dani Carvajal, defensive rock Pepe, midfield playmaker Luka Modric and attacking dynamo Gareth Bale.
Any team in the world robbed of players of that calibre would struggle to replace them adequately, and it would only be strange if Madrid were not suffering during their absence – the fact that they are is entirely predictable.
The problems of the Bernabeu giants are further exacerbated by the fact that other players are suffering from a lack of form, especially forwards Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Frenchman has been poor for months, perhaps as a consequence of the endless off-the-pitch troubles he seems to attract, perhaps because of a series of niggling injuries, perhaps because of the disruption to the team around him, and probably a combination of all three.
Benzema has scored just five goals in 14 league appearances this season, and he has particularly struggled in recent weeks, failing to find the target in the last four games. His place is now seriously under threat, with 88 per cent of 20,000 fans polled by Spanish newspaper AS favouring benching him for Sunday night’s game against Real Sociedad.
It hardly helps that Ronaldo is also going through a relative barren patch, only netting a pair of set-pieces (a penalty against Sevilla and a free-kick against Celta Vigo) during the downturn in form.
Ronaldo has won Real Madrid 19 points this season, this is more than Suarez(8) and Neymar (0) combined and doubled pic.twitter.com/G4mvlhDrfw
— Zeus (@KeylorinhoZ) January 27, 2017
At least Ronaldo’s mediocrity in general play has not prevented him from routinely being Los Blancos’ biggest threat, and maybe the most important positive for the club at the moment is the likelihood that it’s only a matter of time before he starts scoring with his usual regularity.
Time, however, is not a commodity which is freely granted at the Bernabeu, where only instant success is tolerated and even icons like Ronaldo and Zidane find themselves whistled and jeered if results are poor. This is a crucial stage of the season.
Failing to win on Sunday could see Madrid drop down to third place in La Liga, and their loss of form just before the return of the Champions League – Napoli visit the Bernabeu on February 15 – is causing jittery fans to fear the season is on the brink of collapse.
That might be an overreaction, but it’s not really unfair to suggest that Madrid are now getting the results their performances have always deserved.
🇵🇹⚽️☝️
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) January 27, 2017
Watch @Cristiano's goals 🆚 @RealSociedadEN at the Bernabéu!#HalaMadrid #RealMadrid pic.twitter.com/HfhvnAVYAo
Considering how many unconvincing displays they delivered during their unbeaten run, it was actually quite remarkable they managed to sustain it for so long – often requiring last-minute heroics or heavy doses of fortune to do so.
Truly dominant performances were rare and, strangely, despite breaking records and conquering all-comers, this Madrid side has always looked vulnerable and beatable. Zidane appeared to have a magic touch, with Barcelona fans in particular claiming he was not a great manager, merely a lucky one.
Now, though, his luck has ran out and reality is hitting hard. With so many key players absent, others out of form and confidence damaged, there’s a genuine danger that Madrid’s sudden downturn has not yet reached the bottom.
Sunday night could be pivotal – if there is another poor team performance and more dropped points, press that panic button.
