The Weekly Take, Issue 381: It's Not Real's City Anymore

It's exceptionally rare that a team is able to get the psychological edge over Real Madrid - a team which has on countless occasions delivered the goods under the highest stakes. However, this is exactly what has turned out to be the case over the past several years with none other than their cross-town rivals Atlético Madrid who, in the latest Madrid derby, once again highlighted the fact that Atlético have now unquestionably gotten into Los Merengues' heads.

Atlético shook off their slow start to the current La Liga season with a 5-2 thrashing of Real on the back of a dominant second half. Atlético opened the scoring in the 14th minute by way of a Robin Le Normand header that finished off a cross sent in by Giovanni Simeone. Later in the first half, Real would fire back with two goals within an 11-minute span - the first from Kylian Mbappé, the second from Arda Güler who had earlier set up Mbappé's goal.

Shortly before the half-time interval, Atlético centre-back Clement Lenglet had a goal waved off by VAR after a check revealed that the Frenchman had handled the ball on its way into the net. Nevertheless, Atlético entered the break on level terms after Alexander Sørloth scored his side's second headed goal of the match in first-half stoppage time.

It was one-way traffic after the break as Atlético completely took over. Following an Atlético corner kick early in the second half, Güler fouled Nicolás González in the penalty area; the ensuing penalty was duly converted by Julián Alvarez. The Argentinian striker scored his second and Atlético's fourth in the 63rd minute with a spectacular free kick. Fittingly, rounding off the victory was a stoppage-time goal scored by none other than the greatest player to ever put on an Atlético jersey: Antoine Griezmann.

At this point, it's remarkable to think that from 1999 to 2013, Atlético did not beat Real even once. Yet at this point, if there's any team that seems to have the blueprint to stopping the 15-time European champions, it would have to be Atlético. Not even Real's greatest rivals Barcelona have had Real's number like this as Real have beaten Barça in five of the last 11 editions of El Clásico.

Despite conceding two goals, Atlético kept Real's attack stymied throughout the match; the two goals which Real scored were their only two shots on target. Real were simply unable to cope with the level of intensity that Atlético brought. Atlético were not only able to have their way with Real's attack for the vast majority of the match; they turned this defensive edge into goalscoring chances of their own on offense.

Real couldn't find any way to counter Atlético's pressing and rotations and on multiple occasions ended up overcommitting because of this. As soon as Sørloth scored the equalizing goal, it almost seemed inevitable that Atlético would run away with the match in the second half. It never really felt as though Real played like they themselves genuinely believed they could beat Atlético - a stunning contrast when compared to what Madrid derbies before 2010 were usually like.

Although Atlético remain six points behind Real who remain in first place in the league despite the loss, a result like this clearly highlights that they can't be counted out in their pursuit of a first league title in five years. There's still more than enough time to make up the ground they've lost in the early going - and if recent history is anything to go by, Atlético will likely take three more points off Real in the upcoming reverse fixture in March as well.

While it may be true that on the surface this was "just one early-season match", the trend has nonetheless been incredibly obvious to anyone paying attention. This wasn't even necessarily entirely an instance of Atlético outstrategizing Real; this most recent victory was all the evidence that anyone could've needed as proof that Diego Simeone's team has entirely reversed the Madrid clubs' respective statuses as far as their history in derby matches is concerned.

The Madrid derby has never held the prestige of its counterparts in London, Milan, or Manchester, among others, largely due to Atlético Madrid's ineptitude for long stretches of time. However, we have clearly entered a new era - one in which Atlético are not only competitive, but the outright favourites to win derby matches.

The Weekly Take, Issue 363: Three Legends Sign Off

The end of the Premier League and La Liga seasons also meant the end of the stints of three of the all-time greats—two players and a manager—at their respective clubs. Luka Modrić and Kevin De Bruyne wrapped up their tenures of 13 and 10 years at Real Madrid and Manchester City respectively while in Real’s dugout, Carlo Ancelotti concluded his second spell at the helm of Los Merengues; his return to the Santiago Bernabéu took his total time spent in the role to six years.

All three were able to finish on a high note: Real Madrid beat Real Sociedad while Manchester City beat Fulham; both wins were by 2-0 scorelines. In Real’s match, a Kylian Mbappé brace was enough to secure Real’s victory; as for City, İlkay Gündoğan’s spectacular bicycle kick put them a goal ahead before half-time; after the break, Erling Haaland’s penalty made all three points safe.

However, given the events of the day as well as the fact that both teams had already clinched Champions League qualification for next season, the actual results of both matches seemed almost inconsequential - and understandably so. Modrić, Ancelotti, and De Bruyne leave as unquestioned legends of their clubs with impacts that will forever resonate at the Bernabéu and the Etihad Stadium.

Just a few months after Modrić signed for Real back in 2012, no one would ever have believed that more than a decade later, the Croatian would be leaving the club to a standing ovation from the entire Bernabéu and a guard of honour not only from his teammates, but even Real’s opponents on the day. His time in the Spanish capital certainly didn’t start as he’d hoped - such were his early struggles that Modrić was commonly cited as the worst signing of the 2012-13 seasons.

As the years passed, though, things would change. Modrić would cement himself as an indispensable part of the Real team which would win three consecutive Champions League titles from the 2015-16 to 2017-18 seasons and become not only one of the best midfielders in the world, but of all time. Modrić’s crowning achievement was, of course, winning the Ballon d’Or in 2018. He leaves Real having represented the club in almost 600 matches and having won four La Liga titles and a joint-record six Champions Leagues.

Having coached Real to the Champions League title in 2013-14 before being somewhat surprisingly fired after a trophyless season a year later, Ancelotti returned in the 2021 off-season with unfinished business - and it didn’t take him long at all to right that wrong. In his first season back at the Bernabéu and third overall, Ancelotti helmed yet another Champions League title run to go with a La Liga title - the fourth Champions League of his career including the two he won with AC Milan in the 2000s.

Two years later, Ancelotti would once again take Real to a league and Champions League Double. With five Champions League titles under his belt, Ancelotti leaves to take over as the Brazil national team’s new head coach as clearly the greatest of all time - at this point there isn’t really a reasonable case to be made for anyone else anymore.

Over in England, De Bruyne’s final match for City came as a substitute to a rousing reception, entering to a standing ovation of his own. A decade ago, De Bruyne arrived at the Etihad as one of the most promising young midfielders in the world, fresh off winning the Bundesliga’s Player of the Year award with VfL Wolfsburg in the 2014-15 season. De Bruyne soon emerged as one of the best midfielders on the planet; he was an integral part of six Premier League titles as well as City’s Champions League title run in the 2022-23 season - part of only the second Treble to be won by an English club.

Twice selected as the Premier League Player of the Season, De Bruyne played over 400 matches at City over his remarkable career. A statue of the Belgian which will stand outside the Etihad has now been confirmed to be in the works; it’s a well-deserved honour for a player who leaves as perhaps the greatest player in Manchester City’s history.

Although it remains to be seen just how Real Madrid and Manchester City will bounce back from their club icons’ departures, whoever replaces them will certainly have some of the biggest shoes to fill.

The Weekly Take, Issue 348: Indicative of Greater Struggles or Rounding Into Form Just in Time?

Before their blockbuster Champions League clash against Manchester City, Real Madrid first had to get through the Madrid derby in the league. This was an especially high-stakes derby because cross-town rivals Atlético Madrid trailed Real by just one point in the league. The winner of the match would leave the Santiago Bernabéu top of the league and deal a severe blow to their rivals’ title chances.

As things turned out, though, both teams finished as they started; the match ended in a 1-1 draw. After a little over a half-hour was played, French midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni surrendered Real’s first penalty of the season after fouling Atlético’s Samuel Lino who’d been attempting to finish off a cross played in by Javi Galán. Julián Alvarez then stepped forward to convert the penalty.

Atlético carried their lead into the half-time break; however, it didn’t take Real much time after the interval to score the equalizing goal. After Jude Bellingham’s initial shot was blocked, Kylian Mbappé was right in position to finish off the follow-up attempt. Following this, Real went on to firmly control the match throughout the second half but, as so many have found over the years, Diego Simeone’s Atlético team are probably the most difficult team to chip away at; their frequent attacks on the Atlético net following Mbappé’s goal yielded nothing further.

Although Real might currently be in first place in La Liga, that doesn’t tell the whole story. This has certainly been a more difficult campaign for Real than what they’d likely have envisioned when the season began. Real started their league season slowly and only recently took the lead for the first time this season; for most of it they’d been playing catch-up to Atlético and Barcelona. Real’s early-season struggles were punctuated by a 4-0 loss to Barça in El Clásico and arguably encapsulated by Mbappé’s slump which ended up costing them several wins.

However, this doesn’t even compare to what they’ve been through in the league phase of the Champions League. After losing three of four matches, Real were dangerously close to not even making it to the round of 24; they were in 24th place after five matchdays before winning their last three to set up a highly anticipated match against City for a spot in the last 16.

While it’s true that this season hasn’t even been close to peak Real, that may be all that’s needed to win them the league title for the fourth time in the last six seasons. Real are currently on pace to finish the season with 83 points in the league. The last time a total that low would’ve won La Liga was almost two decades ago in the 2006-07 season. That being said, due to Atlético’s and Barça’s own inconsistent form, Real have only needed to be “just better than” the two other title contenders.

Needless to say, performances on this level won’t cut it if Real are to make a genuine run at defending their Champions League title. Although their next opponents have had obvious struggles of their own this season to the point at which most are expecting Real to come out on top against City, it almost certainly won’t be enough against the gauntlet of opponents to come after.

With that in mind, is it possible that Real have been starting to turn the corner and are peaking at just the right time? Heading into the derby, Real had won four of their last five in the league to move into first place; as mentioned earlier, they also finished the league phase of the Champions League with three wins in a row. So many times over the years we’ve seen Real ramp it up and come into form down the final stretch of the season. This could easily be the case once again.

It’s astonishing to think that even in a “down year”, Real Madrid could conceivably end up winning both La Liga and the Champions League. That said, such an outcome isn’t likely to take place with more performances like theirs against Atlético in the derby. However, by now everyone knows better than to dismiss Real way too early - after all, there’s a reason they’re the winningest football club of all time.

The Weekly Take, Issue 338: Not the Title Defense They'd Hoped For

Real Madrid had already gotten off to a slow start to their Champions League campaign even before their match against Premier League leaders Liverpool. Los Merengues’ title defense had not been going well following prior losses to Lille and AC Milan. For that reason, when Real headed to Anfield to face off against the Reds, it was perhaps their most important match thus far this season - and against a serious contender for the Champions League title, no less.

As things turned out, Real never even stood a chance. The final scoreline of 2-0 to Liverpool was somewhat flattering to Real - it could’ve, and likely should’ve, been larger. Despite dominating the match more or less right from opening kick-off, Liverpool didn’t open the scoring until early in the second half. Alexis Mac Allister played a one-two with Conor Bradley before advancing into Real’s penalty area, then firing a shot into the bottom corner of the net.

Following this, both teams traded penalty misses. Real first had a chance to equalize from the spot after Andy Robertson fouled Lucas Vázquez in the penalty area; however, Kylian Mbappé squandered Real’s opportunity, having his penalty saved by Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher. Nine minutes later, Ferland Mendy conceded a penalty after his own foul on Liverpool winger Mohamed Salah, only for Salah to blow the ensuing spot-kick; his attempt wasn’t even close.

Liverpool continued to outplay their Spanish opponents in every facet of the game and to the surprise of absolutely nobody, scored their second goal in the 76th minute when Cody Gakpo found the net with a header off a cross sent in by Robertson.

Real’s loss - their third in five Champions League matches this season - leaves them in 24th place at the end of the fifth of eight league phase matchdays. In a scenario which would have seemed inconceivable when the season started, Real are in serious danger of failing to even qualify for the play-ins for a spot in the round of 16.

Real haven’t even been close to the force they were just last season when they won their second Champions League title in three seasons and also reclaimed their La Liga title after finishing ahead of arch-rivals Barcelona by 10 points. This season, however, it’s not just about Real’s struggles in continental play - domestically, while not far behind Barça right now, the obvious lowlight of Real’s 2024-25 La Liga campaign to date has to have been their crushing 4-0 home defeat against Barça. Of course, this leads to the question - just what’s going wrong at the Santiago Bernabéu?

A sizable amount of the blame has to be placed on Mbappé. The Frenchman arrived in the Spanish capital over the off-season following the expiry of his contract at PSG, having decided against activating its extension clause. Despite all the fanfare which his arrival at Real brought, Mbappé’s form has been inconsistent since the beginning of the season - a far cry from the level which had previously seen him establish himself as a perennial Ballon d’Or contender.

Real’s injury crisis can’t be overstated either. Among the players currently sidelined are Rodrygo, Aurélien Tchouaméni, and most notably of all, Vinícius Júnior. Would it have been the case that at least one of them would have made the difference against Liverpool? Not necessarily - but when the team sustains such major losses, it means that the entire setup has to be adjusted; against Liverpool, it was obvious that this wasn't what Real was comfortable with.

Speaking of Vinícius, the off-field drama surrounding him and thus Real has undoubtedly been an unwelcome distraction. After finding out in advance that the Brazilian winger would not win the Ballon d’Or, Real opted to boycott the ceremony in Paris - a decision that understandably invited sharp criticism from the football world in general. Real’s detractors have long derided them as the “golden child” of the powers that be; the fact that their refusal to attend the ceremony didn’t lead to any official response further intensified the backlash.

All things considered, while there’s more than enough time for Real Madrid to claw their way back into Champions League or La Liga contention, this definitely isn’t how they envisioned the first third of their season going. They’re not out of it by any means - but it will be a difficult road back.

The Weekly Take, Issue 312: An All-Time Great Gets the Dream Career Finish

After a 17-year career, one of the greatest midfielders of all time has ended his club football career on a high note - with another Champions League title to his name.

On May 21, Toni Kroos announced his upcoming retirement at the age of 34 via a post on Instagram. The German midfielder’s last matches would be for his national team at Euro 2024, making his appearance in the Champions League final at Wembley for Real Madrid against Borussia Dortmund his club football swansong. Not surprisingly, this became the biggest underlying storyline heading into the match.

Real ended up clinching their sixth Champions League title in the last 11 seasons and a record-extending 15th overall. Although Dortmund had multiple viable goalscoring chances in the first half, Die Schwarzgelbe weren’t able to take advantage of any of them - and as such, they were made to pay after the break. Dani Carvajal put Real a goal ahead in the 74th minute via a header that fittingly, was delivered by Kroos. Nine minutes later, Vinícius Júnior put the result beyond all doubt after finishing off a chance set up by Jude Bellingham, who’d received the ball in a dangerous position following an error by Dortmund full-back Ian Maatsen.

There can be no question that Kroos has done it all. Seven league titles, four domestic cups, a World Cup title with Germany in 2014, and now - by far the most remarkable statistic of the lot - six Champions League titles. Kroos has been an integral part of the greatest dynasty that football has ever seen.

In stark contrast to the exit of Marco Reus, another German veteran who was ending his own legendary 12-year stint at Dortmund, Kroos went out in a blaze of glory. This was a performance in which the man from Greifswald turned back the clock, resembling the player he was at his absolute peak. Kroos was involved in almost all of Los Merengues’ serious attacking thrusts, making countless key passes and setting up multiple goalscoring opportunities - including the one which ended up being Real’s first goal.

Going back to that day almost a decade ago when Kroos first signed for Real, his stock at the time was already high following the major role he played in Germany’s 2014 World Cup triumph. Kroos was signed from Bayern Munich for the now laughably low fee of €25 million. As such, very few at the time could’ve predicted that Kroos would someday go on to become a club icon and a bona fide legend of the Santiago Bernabéu.

By the end of Kroos’ fourth season in Madrid, he’d been one of the core pieces of a historic Champions League three-peat, been named to the FIFPro World XI and UEFA Team of the Year twice as a Real player, and led La Liga in assists in 2016-17. While already an extremely impressive achievement list, Kroos wasn’t even close to done.

Kroos was a major reason why Real didn’t immediately suffer a severe drop-off following the 2018 off-season departure of Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus. Alongside Luka Modrić and Casemiro, Kroos would establish himself as one-third of the greatest midfield trios ever. 

After a lean spell which included back-to-back round of 16 Champions League exits as well as a tame elimination at the hands of England at Euro 2020, some thought Kroos would be in terminal decline from that point on. Instead, Kroos had a bounce-back season in 2021-22, playing an important role in Real’s La Liga and Champions League double before capping it off with another of the same this season.

Taking his entire career into consideration, one can go a step further: Kroos retires as the greatest midfielder to ever come out of Germany. Even compared to icons like Günter Netzer, Wolfgang Overath, Lothar Matthäus, and Mesut Özil, Kroos has surpassed all of them. None of them have the combination of peak level of play, statistical achievements, and individual and team accolades that Kroos has - including (but not by much) Matthäus who was the consensus pick for “greatest ever German midfielder” before Kroos.

With Germany’s national team looking stronger than it has been in years, there’s an opportunity for Toni Kroos to sign off his international career on a high note - if not with a Euro 2024 victory, then at least with a deep run. It would be a fitting way to sign off.

The Weekly Take, Issue 297: Rounding Into Peak Form

After the mid-season break, the Champions League has resumed with the first leg of round of 16 ties. This week, the standout fixture was the match between RB Leipzig and Real Madrid.

Leipzig were first to get the ball into the net via Benjamin Šeško in the third minute; however, his goal did not stand following a VAR check revealing that the Slovenian striker had fouled Real goalkeeper Andriy Lunin in his attempt. Leipzig were made to pay for this shortly after half-time when Brahim Díaz scored a spectacular goal to put Los Merengues a goal ahead. At the final whistle, the score remained 1-0 in no small part due to an outstanding performance between the goalposts by Lunin.

We have seen this before from Real - when in the first half of the season they, while not necessarily playing poorly, still seem as though they're keeping something in the tank only to ramp things up after the halfway points of the season and coming into form at just the right time. This match and the one before it in the league against Girona are perfect examples - especially because Real won both matches in strikingly different ways.

Against Girona, Real ripped the heart right out of their closest title challengers. The club from the capital dominated right from the opening kick-off and stalling what had been one of this season's greatest stories, burying their Catalan opponents 4-0. This Champions League match against Leipzig, on the other hand, showcased Real's grit and tenacity. Despite not always having the best goalscoring chances, one always had the sense that somehow, Real would find a way - and so they did.

There's an expression which most people reading this haven't heard before, but it's one that aptly describes Real. After winning the Pokémon VGC World Championship in 2016, Wolfe Glick coined the phrase "world champion difference". While this was initially done in a tongue-in-cheek manner, he was more on the money than he might have realized - and it's an aphorism that applies to sports as well. Real are quite simply a team that "know how to win and know when to step up a gear".

Keep in mind that this is a team which won the Champions League just two years ago, are coached by arguably the greatest to ever do it in Carlo Ancelotti, and are brimming with big-match experience - and that even includes their younger players. On top of that, the thought of facing a team like Real as the Champions League reaches the sharp end has to play on opponents' minds. Such is the reputation that Real have built up, particularly on the continental stage, that in some ways they start a match with a mental edge over the team they're facing - and that can almost function as if they start a goal up.

Not only that - the victory against Leipzig was achieved in the absence of the injured Jude Bellingham. This season, the English midfielder has ascended to bona fide Ballon d'Or contender status and revealed himself as a truly generational prospect. At just 20, Bellingham is not only already Real's best player but is also likely six or seven years away from his absolute peak - a mind-melting thought indeed. The fact that Real were able to pivot so smoothly in Bellingham's absence speaks volumes of their squad's depth and cohesiveness. That's exactly what they need in their pursuit of a La Liga and Champions League double.

As well as Real have been playing recently, in some ways it still does feel as though they have another gear to reach. Should that be the case, it will be very difficult to stop their attempt to win a second Champions League in three seasons, a sixth in 11, and a record-extending 15th in total.

There are some teams which one just instinctively trusts down the stretch, when things get tight and the pressure is at its highest. Again and again, Real Madrid have proven to be such a team. While it's of course not out of the question that the wheels could suddenly fall off and things might start going wrong, based on everything that we've seen over the past decade or so, that's unlikely to say the least.

The Weekly Take, Issue 278: "Limitless Potential" Is an Understatement

Ordinarily, most would not consider a transfer fee of €103 million to be well below what would be deemed adequate. However, this has been exactly the case at Real Madrid - a fact once again on display in their recent Champions League match against Napoli.

Off-season signing Jude Bellingham continued his remarkable run of form, scoring a spectacular solo goal and providing an assist to lead Real to a 3-2 victory over Napoli. Leo Østigård opened the scoring for Napoli in the 17th minute, but it would not be long until Bellingham took over. In a seven-minute first-half span, Bellingham set up Vinícius Júnior's equalizing goal before leaving the Napoli defense in his dust to add another standout moment to his burgeoning highlight reel. After the break, Victor Osimhen earned a penalty for Napoli which Piotr Zieliński converted, only for Los Merengues to claim all three points following Alex Meret's own goal from Federico Valverde's shot.

Even at this early stage of the season, it's becoming difficult to continue listing superlatives to describe Bellingham's play. Although he had already had a breakout campaign at Borussia Dortmund last season while also making a major impact for England at the 2022 World Cup, almost no one - not even many of the staunchest Dortmund fans (myself included) could have seen Bellingham's ascension coming. In just one off-season, the young man from the West Midlands has gone from being a promising young talent to arguably the best player on the planet - and this at the age of just 20.

There are many clubs who could have afforded to sign Bellingham this past off-season. A fee of €103 million is well within the means of most of Europe's top clubs. Additionally and more importantly, Bellingham is the type of player around whom a club should absolutely build its transfer window strategy. If there were ever a player about whom it could be said "forget our transfer plan. We have to sign him", Bellingham is unquestionably one of them. Real did so and are now reaping the rewards.

Bellingham has shattered every expectation thrust upon him. When he arrived at the Santiago Bernabéu, most expected him to be an important contributor to the team. However, if one had said "he will be far and away their best player from day one", almost nobody would have believed that person. Yet, this is exactly what has happened.

Despite still being at this nascent stage of his career, Bellingham already ranks among the world's best central midfielders in each of the following areas: playmaking, finishing, dribbling, through balls, and general technical skill. Even his defensive skills are at the very least above average. When Bellingham signed for Real, he chose to wear the #5 jersey in honour of the player he idolized: Zinedine Zidane. This statement would have sounded blasphemous just six months ago but now might actually be somewhat plausible: "Jude Bellingham's ceiling might rival Zidane's."

I will go a step further - there is a realistic possibility that Bellingham might win the 2024 Ballon d'Or and break Ronaldo Nazário's record as the youngest to ever claim the honour. At the moment, most power rankings have him third behind Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé; however, there's still a lot of the season to be played. If Real go on to win the Champions League for a record-extending 15th time and the second time in three seasons, Bellingham would likely be in prime position to capture the first Ballon d'Or by an Englishman since Michael Owen won it in 2001. This would especially be the case if Real were to beat Haaland's Manchester City, Mbappé's Paris Saint-Germain, or both en route to the title.

Barring anything truly calamitous, Jude Bellingham has a glittering future ahead of him. Ballon d'Or titles, La Liga titles, Champions Leagues - and maybe even a World Cup: all these honours await him if he continues on his current trajectory. Given the fact that Bellingham's absolute peak likely won't be seen for another five to 10 years, it boggles the mind to imagine the player he could someday become.

Real Madrid legend and perhaps England's greatest player ever in the making? Don't be surprised if Bellingham turns out to be both.

The Weekly Take, Issue 267: It Finally Seems to Be Happening

After a six-year stint at Paris Saint-Germain including a transfer saga running for multiple years now, Kylian Mbappé finally looks set to leave the Parc des Princes. It seems almost certain that the club which Mbappé will join will be Real Madrid. The Frenchman has been linked to Los Merengues for several years now; however, according to the latest information, PSG have been in contact with Real regarding Mbappé's proposed arrival in the Spanish capital.

No official transfer bids have yet been made; having said that, Transfermarkt places Mbappé's likely transfer fee at an eye-popping €180 million. Were he to be sold at such a fee, Mbappé's transfer would be the second-most expensive in football history, only trailing that of his would-be ex-teammate Neymar who left Barcelona for PSG after PSG paid the Catalan club €222 million in 2017.

During his six years at his hometown club, Mbappé has progressed from an enticing young prospect to one of the all-time greats. At just 24, Mbappé already has a World Cup title and a Nations League title on the international front. At club level, he has won Ligue 1 five times and the Coupe de France three times with PSG. He is a perennial Ballon d'Or contender and has already scored almost 300 career goals at all levels in all competitions. However, in spite of all this success, the one title he most desperately seeks continues to elude him: the Champions League.

Year after year after year, PSG seem to find new and more spectacular ways to underperform on Europe's biggest stage. Apart from a run to the final in the pandemic-stricken 2019-20 season, Mbappé has experienced failure time and again in the Champions League. At this point, PSG choking in the Champions League is almost an inevitability. This fact only makes Mbappé's impending move to Real even more likely.

After losing in the semifinals of last season's Champions League, Real wasted almost no time in loading up for next season's campaign. Last month, Real signed English midfielder Jude Bellingham for €103 million. Having just had a breakout season at Borussia Dortmund while also playing an excellent World Cup, the 20-year-old Bellingham appears set to be one of the world's best midfielders for at least the next decade if not longer. Bellingham has joined the likes of Federico Valverde, Vinícius Júnior, Rodrygo, Aurélien Tchouaméni, and Eduardo Camavinga to form by far the best young core in world football. The addition of Mbappé would all but guarantee Real at least two Champions League titles over the next five or six seasons. It would almost certainly give birth to a new dynasty at the Santiago Bernabéu.

Real have also just seen club legend Karim Benzema leave for Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad, leaving a gaping hole up front. While Mbappé is not primarily a centre-forward, he is more than capable of playing the position. Mbappé would likely take up the role of the "false nine" at Real - a position filled by Neymar and Lionel Messi at various points during Mbappé's time at PSG.

By signing for Real, Mbappé would also likely exponentially increase his chances of winning two major individual honours which he has never claimed - the Ballon d'Or and the European Golden Shoe. Five times over the past six seasons, Mbappé has finished in the top four of the Ballon d'Or rankings with a personal best of fourth in 2018. Mbappé has also been in the top five of the European Golden Shoe leaderboard four times in five seasons including two second-place finishes and one third-place. At Real, he would almost certainly be guaranteed multiple Champions League titles which would exponentially elevate his Ballon d'Or chances. Additionally, playing with a team stacked to ungodly levels like that which Real would have with him on board would lead to a plethora of goalscoring opportunities and thus put him in prime position to chase the European Golden Shoe as well.

From Kylian Mbappé's perspective, joining Real Madrid has absolutely no downsides, especially when considering that PSG have almost certainly hit their ceiling and have no further room for improvement. Mbappé has the opportunity to establish himself as the centrepiece of an iconic, dynastic team - something only very, very few footballers will ever be able to do.

The Weekly Take, Issue 246: All Their Eggs in One Basket

The standout fixture of the most recent La Liga matchday was obviously the Madrid derby. It finished in a 1-1 draw - a result which was of no benefit to either Real Madrid or Atlético Madrid. Atlético scored first despite having been reduced to 10 men in the 64th minute following Ángel Correa's controversial red card. A quarter-hour after the incident, Uruguayan centre-back José María Giménez scored with a header to put Atlético on course to claim all three points. However, six minutes later, Giménez's compatriot Álvaro Rodríguez, playing in just the second La Liga match of his career, scored Los Merengues' equalizer.

The fact that both Madrid clubs split the result meant that Atlético missed an opportunity to move into third place in the league and boost their chances of a top-four finish and the Champions League berth that accompanies it. As for Real, the result all but ensures that they will not defend their league title. They now trail league leaders Barcelona by seven points despite having played an additional match.

After having won 10 and drawn one of their first 11 league matches, Real's domestic form has been inconsistent since. Over their 12 La Liga matches since that point, Real have accumulated just 21 points in the league. This run of poor form has included losses against Villarreal and Mallorca as well as a draw against Girona, just to name a few notable missed opportunities.

Real have been hit hard by post-World Cup fatigue - many of their players have not even been close to peak level ever since returning from Qatar. Luka Modrić, Eduardo Camavinga, and Aurélien Tchouaméni have evidently been paying for their efforts during international football's showpiece tournament, while players who had disappointing World Cup campaigns such as Dani Carvajal, Federico Valverde, and Antonio Rüdiger continued to be out of form upon their returns to the Spanish capital. This has allowed Barça to open up a lead which at this point seems all but insurmountable.

The uncertainty around head coach Carlo Ancelotti has also added an air of instability around the club. There had been rumours that Ancelotti would have been fired had Real Madrid not won the Club World Cup as well as links between the legendary Italian coach and the now-vacant position at the helm of the Brazil national team. Although nothing has yet become of either of these rumours, they nevertheless provide the club with a distraction which cannot be afforded right now.

Real did not sign any players during the mid-season transfer window; this is beginning to look like a mistake. Of particular note is the fact that Real did not strengthen their defense. Rüdiger, Carvajal, David Alaba, and Ferland Mendy have all been well below the required standard this season. It's virtually guaranteed that at least one of these defenders will find themselves on the way out of the Santiago Bernabéu at some point in the next off-season. However, if Real were to have seriously challenged Barça for the league title, they ought to have signed a defender in January. Their failure to do so might just have finished off whatever chance they may have had to win the league.

At this point, Real's most likely avenue to win a title this season is the Champions League; in fact, Real should go all-in on it. Not only will Real almost certainly not win La Liga; it is also highly unlikely that they will win the Copa del Rey. They have been drawn against Barça in the last four. Almost throughout the entire season, Barça have clearly been superior to Real. It will be extremely difficult for Real to beat their Catalan arch-rivals over two legs. On the other hand, Real lead Liverpool 5-2 after the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 fixture. Additionally, playing in Europe's leading club tournament has always seemed to unlock a higher gear within Real. And, in a Champions League missing powerhouses like Arsenal, Manchester United, Atlético, and Union Berlin, there is every chance that Real could win the Champions League for a record-extending 15th time.

For most top teams, it isn't advisable to fixate on one tournament at the expense of all the others. However, if Real Madrid are to finish the season with a title to their name and if Ancelotti is to ensure he remains in the Bernabéu dugout, doing so might be exactly what has to be done.

The Weekly Take, Issue 232: First Blood in the Mbappé Sweepstakes

Real Madrid opened up a three-point lead at the summit of La Liga with a convincing 3-1 victory over arch-rivals Barcelona. Newly-crowned Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema opened the scoring; Federico Valverde and Rodrygo also registered goals for the Champions League holders. Ferran Torres scored Barça's only goal seven minutes from the end of regulation time; however, it proved to be inconsequential. Real's El Clásico win clearly established that in spite of their Catalan rivals' highly productive off-season, Real remain the team to beat in Spain.

Los Merengues' victory comes in the wake of transfer-related news that is likely to alter how teams approach the upcoming mid-season transfer window in January. Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappé supposedly claimed to be interested in leaving the club just months after rebuffing Real to continue his stint at his hometown club. While Mbappé has since denied this, the fact remains that the Pandora's Box has been opened; adding to the intrigue of the situation is that Real have been pursuing his acquisition for several years now.

There is arguably no club in world football right now in which Mbappé would be a better fit than Real. As undoubtedly great as Benzema still is, he will turn 35 in December. His decline will begin sooner or later. At 23, Mbappé could easily take over from his compatriot in the starting line-up once Benzema begins to age out of his peak years, then provide a decade of elite-level production up front - or perhaps even more.

Real could not have provided Mbappé with a better sales pitch. If he indeed decides to leave the Parc des Princes for the Spanish capital and become Benzema's replacement, Real would not only be set up for success in the present, but the future as well. Rodrygo, Valverde, and Vinícius Júnior, like Mbappé, are all in their early 20s. As the would-be "face" of the most successful club in football history, Mbappé would get the media attention and publicity he has always craved. He would be the undisputed leader of Real's attack - the pecking order would be firmly defined. There would not be any potential ego clashes with players like Neymar or Lionel Messi.

Mbappé has openly stated that having already won a World Cup with France, his next major target is the Ballon d'Or. There might be no better avenue for him to do exactly that than by joining Real. If Mbappé were to sign for Real, his arrival would make them the red-hot favourites to win the Champions League. As arguably the best player on the likely victors of Europe's leading club competition, one could scarcely imagine a more favourable scenario for Mbappé to snag football's highest individual honour.

As if all of that weren't enough, Mbappé would be coached by none other than the greatest football coach of all time in Carlo Ancelotti. The upgrade in the dugout that he would experience after leaving Christophe Galtier behind would be monumental. Ancelotti's tactical brilliance and supreme strategic mastery could very well unlock a new level in Mbappé's game - one that sees him truly emerge as one of the greatest strikers of all time.

The match against Barça clearly showed how great Real already are. If what they showed Mbappé were not enough to convince him, one wonders just what would. The only question mark is this: after so many failed attempts to sign him in the past, would this be a case of "once bitten, twice shy"? Though it's difficult to determine if such is so, one would not fault Real for having this line of thinking.

Of course, Real are not the only club in the "Kylian Mbappé Sweepstakes". You could easily argue that he'd be a good fit at teams such as Manchester United and AC Milan as well. However, the combination of team quality, coaching, setup, money, publicity, and title opportunities that is afforded by Real makes them the obvious front-runners to sign Mbappé.

Perhaps Mbappé's recent denial of the transfer rumours around him is genuine - he might not truly want to leave PSG after all. Nevertheless, every major club who can afford his signing is surely on high alert, and especially after this most recent victory, Real Madrid evidently have the inside track once again.

The Weekly Take, Issue 212: A Performance for the Ages

Sometimes, there are singular moments in football when everyone watching knows at once that they have just seen something truly historic and unprecedented. Such was the case after the final of the 2021-22 Champions League.

After months of gruelling competition, Real Madrid emerged victorious with a 1-0 victory over Liverpool in the final at the Stade de France. This meant that Real claimed the title for a record-extending 14th time.

With the victory, Los Merengues' head coach Carlo Ancelotti won his fourth Champions League title - a feat that makes him indisputably the greatest coach in the history of football. The combination of his achievements and longevity now ensure that even the likes of Pep Guardiola, Sir Alex Ferguson, José Mourinho, Helenio Herrera, and Rinus Michels no longer have a genuine case for that honour. The Italian now stands alone at the top of the mountain; it could very well be decades before his status of "greatest of all time" is truly threatened.

However, in spite of Ancelotti's historic achievement, the spotlight after Real's victory was deservedly focused on one man: Thibaut Courtois. The Belgian goalkeeper turned in one of the greatest individual performances in Champions League history on the biggest stage of all. His nine saves set a new record for saves made in a Champions League final.

Two of Courtois's saves were of particular note. One of them prevented Sadio Mané from opening the scoring. Mané forced his way past two Real players before unleashing a vicious shot that seemed fated to fly into the bottom corner of the net. At full extension, Courtois somehow tipped the ball onto the post before scrambling back to collect the ball. This save set the tone for what would transpire over the rest of the match.

With eight minutes left in regulation time, Liverpool were a goal behind after Vinícius Júnior scored for Real in the 59th minute. Mohamed Salah received a long ball forward and soon got into position for a one-on-one scoring chance. The Reds striker's attempt to tie the match and put his club a step closer to a seventh Champions League title would, however, be thwarted by probably the most spectacular of Courtois's saves. Courtois saw it coming almost as soon as Salah took the shot, diving to his right and batting it out of bounds to the astonishment of everyone watching. That save also all but sealed Real's victory.

Over the years, the Champions League has seen several truly outstanding goalkeeping performances. One that comes to mind is Manuel Neuer's effort for Bayern Munich against Real in the first leg of the 2016-17 quarterfinals. Neuer made 10 saves, denying the likes of Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo time and again. Although Bayern wound up losing the match 2-1, Neuer's incredible performance ensured that the Bavarian club would head into the second leg with a fighting chance. Neuer could not repeat his heroics and Bayern were eliminated; however, that does not take anything away from his play in the first leg.

Prior to Courtois's domination of Liverpool, the gold standard for goalkeeping in a Champions League final had belonged to Gianluigi Buffon for Juventus in 2003. Playing against an AC Milan team in the early stages of a dynasty, Buffon produced multiple to extend the match as he kept the score goalless. In the penalty shootout, the Italian would then go on to save penalties attempted by Milan players Clarence Seedorf and Kakha Kaladze. However, Buffon couldn't get his team over the hump as three Juve players saw their own penalties saved, ensuring that Milan would become the champions of Europe.

Thus, to contextualize Courtois's performance: it came in the single biggest match in club football, was a record-breaker, came against perhaps the most potent attacking line in world football, and most importantly, snatched victory from the jaws of defeat for his club.

For these reasons, I would claim that Ancelotti is not the only figure at Real to find himself in a "greatest of all time" discussion after that match. Thibaut Courtois's display in Paris might very well be the finest 90 minutes ever put together by a goalkeeper in the history of the Champions League.

The Weekly Take, Issue 197: Stumbling Towards the Finish Line

Real Madrid's lead over Sevilla at the top of La Liga was slashed to four points after Real drew 0-0 against Villarreal. What should have been a routine victory for Los Merengues was anything but that. Despite generally being in control of the match, particularly in the second half, Real just could not close it out. Luka Jović and Gareth Bale both had shots strike the crossbar, while Serge Aurier's last-ditch block at the goal line ensured that the score would remain level at the final whistle.

Almost from the beginning of this season, Real have been expected to cruise to the league title, largely due to the struggles of Barcelona and Atlético Madrid - ordinarily their chief rivals. This has not been the case at all, however. Real's lead over second-placed Sevilla is much smaller than what most (including many of Real's fans) would have expected at this point.

Real's recent form in La Liga has certainly been a cause for worry. Real have won just three of their last seven league matches and dropped what ought to have been many easy points along the way. While they remain in the driver's seat as far as the chase for the league title is concerned, they cannot afford to become complacent as they seem to have lately. Sometimes, it almost seems as though Real expect to sleepwalk their way to a league title while exerting minimal effort; this complacency appears to be at the root of their recent slump.

As a matter of fact, the main reason why Real remain in first place in the league right now is Sevilla's own slump. Prior to Sevilla's recent 2-0 victory over Elche, the Andalusian club had drawn their preceding three league matches and thus missed a golden opportunity to overtake Real and put themselves on track for a first league title since 1946.

In any case, with Real's Champions League round of 16 tie against Paris Saint-Germain approaching, the outlook does not favour Real at all. In their current form, an away match against one of the favourites to win it all is exactly what Real did not need. I'd even go so far as to say that Real should regard a close loss in the first leg as a satisfactory result. That's how unlikely a victory seems at the moment.

While Real did have a hot start to the season, they gradually began to take their foot off the accelerator as they pulled further ahead and simply have not been able to rediscover their early-season mindset and form. Though it may be a cliché to say that "winning is a habit", that aphorism certainly seems to be true in Real's case.

There might also be a possibility that Real have been distracted by the ongoing transfer sagas surrounding Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappé, and their likely off-season moves to the Santiago Bernabéu. Borussia Dortmund have not been able to construct a roster which will put Haaland in contention for Champions League titles or permit the Norwegian to be a perennial Ballon d'Or contender., while Real's interest in Mbappé has been something of an open secret for several years now. These were the transfer headlines that dominated the recent January transfer window. Certainly, it wouldn't be surprising at all if that has had an effect on Real's recent lack of form.

Even if Real end up reclaiming the La Liga title which they surrendered to cross-town rivals Atlético last season, this season will likely go down as an unsatisfying one - to those within the club as well as its fans. So much more was expected of Real when this season began, especially considering the fact that Carlo Ancelotti returned to the Real dugout. During the Italian's previous stint as Real's head coach, he led Real to the Champions League title in 2014. Such an outcome, unfortunately, seems unlikely this season.

Claiming this season's La Liga title is a bare minimum for Real. Failure to do so would surely be one of the worst chokes in European football for a very long time. The way that Real have been playing, that scenario is not completely out of the question. Although they should still win the league, nothing is a certainty - especially at this level.

The Weekly Take, Issue 176: A Dozen Matches from GOAT Status

This season's Champions League is now underway, and perhaps the most anticipated fixture of the tournament's first matchday saw Inter Milan host Real Madrid. Real left the San Siro with all three points after winning 1-0. Rodrygo's late goal proved to make the difference.

Real's victory came in spite of the fact that Inter had the majority of the goalscoring opportunities. However, Los Merengues held firm throughout the onslaught, then took full advantage of their chance to snatch the win when it came.

This Champions League season could potentially have historic ramifications for Real. If they go on to win it all, one person at the Santiago Bernabéu will end the season as the greatest of all time.

I'm not talking about a player. The person I'm referring to is Real head coach Carlo Ancelotti, who returned to the Spanish capital this past off-season for his second stint at the club.

At the moment, I currently rank Ancelotti fourth all-time behind José Mourinho, Rinus Michels, and Helenio Herrera. However, another Champions League title would catapult the man from Emilia-Romagna ahead of all three and become, in my opinion, the unquestionable GOAT.

Ancelotti already has three Champions League title to his name: two with AC Milan in 2003 and 2007 as well as one with Real in 2014. It's difficult to overstate just what a fourth title would do for his reputation. If Real were to win the Champions League, Ancelotti would have four Champions League titles and stand alone as the all-time record holder. Even more remarkably, he would have won those four titles over a 19-year span.

Let that figure sink in. Nineteen years. That is unheard of. It would be an achievement which would likely never be repeated.

To put it into perspective, consider the three coaches who I currently rank ahead of Ancelotti. Mourinho won his first Champions League title in 2004. It has been 17 years since; he now struggles to keep pace with the tactical evolution which has taken place in recent years.

Nineteen years after Michels led Ajax to the 1971 European Cup, he was a year removed from an eighth-place finish in the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen. Herrera, meanwhile, retired from coaching in 1981; this was 17 years after his first European Cup title.

Ancelotti isn't only defined by his longevity; his consistency is also absolutely astonishing. In addition to his three Champions League titles, he has reached the semifinals of Europe's leading club competition on four further occasions. These seven runs to the semis or better were achieved at the helm of four different clubs over 16 years, proving that Ancelotti is truly a coach who can extract outstanding results out of any squad and with just about any set of tactics, his blip at Everton notwithstanding.

If Ancelotti were to deliver a Champions League title to Real, it would easily rank as the greatest achievement of his legendary coaching career. Real are not among the favourites to win this season's tournament. Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City, and reigning champions Chelsea are all seen as more likely to claim the title. One of the main reasons why I currently rank Mourinho as the greatest ever is the fact that he won both his Champions League titles as the coach of an underdog team. For Ancelotti to emulate the legendary Portuguese coach combined with everything else he has already done would end the GOAT debate.

In the more than two decades since Ancelotti first emerged as one of the best coaches on the in the world, the football landscape and metagame have changed numerous times. The fact that he has been able to remain so successful this entire time in spite of all these changes is a testament to his strategic genius and his immense knowledge of the players at his disposal and their strengths. Yet, in spite of all of this, Ancelotti continues to remain underrated by many fans as well as the media.

A victorious Champions League run this season would likely change that. Though it might not make Ancelotti the consensus pick for greatest football coach of all time, it would likely put him much closer to that status than most would think.

The Weekly Take, Issue 157: Still Up for Grabs

The most highly-anticipated matchday of the La Liga season ended up being rather anti-climactic.

This was the matchday during which each of the four contenders would face off against a rival for the league title. Barcelona hosted Atlético Madrid while Real Madrid had a home match against Sevilla.

Barça and Atlético played first. Their match ended in a 0-0 draw, meaning that Atlético remained top of the league by two points heading into Real and Sevilla's match the next day. The result was a major missed opportunity for Barça, who had the chance to take the lead by winning.

The next day, Real took on Sevilla. Sevilla had to win to stay in contention for the title. They could not; Eden Hazard's stoppage-time equalizer ensured that it finished at 2-2. The result narrowed the league title contenders to just three after 35 of the 38 matchdays. Like Barça, Real trail Atlético by two points; however, Real are ahead of Barça due to a better head-to-head record.

As the current league leaders and with no remaining fixtures against fellow title contenders, some might assume that Atlético have the title all but sealed. However, this is far from the case. Over the past several months, Atlético's form has declined dramatically. Their once massive league lead has dwindled to just two. They were also comprehensively defeated in the Champions League's round of 16, losing 3-0 on aggregate to Chelsea.

Atlético will next have a massive encounter against Real Sociedad. This is arguably the toughest match remaining for any of the three title contenders. Win that and they'll be just about there - Atlético's last two matches will be against Osasuna and Valladolid; these matches are two likely victories.

Real's final stretch of matches is probably the most difficult among those of all three teams involved. Although they will be favoured to beat Granada, Villarreal, and Athletic Bilbao, all three are good enough to possibly cause an upset and derail Real's bid for back-to-back league titles.

In addition, the fact that Real made the deepest Champions League run among all three title hopefuls could end up working against them. Fatigue could play a role and perhaps cause them to drop much-needed points. This is especially crucial for Real, given the fact that they no longer control their own destiny.

Barça's final run-in is probably the easiest; they face Levante, Celta Vigo, and Eibar. The only slight question mark is Celta; nevertheless, it is a match which the Catalan club will be expected to win. If Atlético were to drop points, Barça would likely have a better chance than would Real to claim the league title, should one of them come from behind and do just that.

That being said, a shadow hangs over Camp Nou - one which may distract the team to such an extent that it derails their title bid. This shadow is, of course, the possible departure of Lionel Messi in the coming off-season. Almost a year ago, it seemed all but certain that Messi would leave the club at which he has become its most iconic figure and perhaps the greatest player of all time. As rumours continue to fly around, Barça will need to summon all their mental toughness to block them out and make one last push.

In any case, it is certainly refreshing to see a competitive title race in one of Europe's four major leagues. Inter Milan, Manchester City, and Bayern Munich all but clinched the Serie A, Premier League, and Bundesliga titles respectively weeks ago. What's more, the fact the La Liga title race includes three teams separated by just two points marks this season out as the most competitive since the 2013-14 season. That year, it was again the same three teams chasing the title. Atlético triumphed with 90 points; Barça and Real both finished on 87.

It may be somewhat of a cliché to say it, but it increasingly appears as though this season's La Liga champion will be "the team who wants it the most". A title race like this seldom comes around - it could very well be the intangibles that end up making the difference.

Get ready for three of the most dramatic matchdays you've ever seen.

The Weekly Take, Issue 153: From Juggernaut to Plucky Underdog

The last time that Real Madrid and Liverpool played a Champions League match against each other, Real clinched their third consecutive Champions League title and fourth in five seasons by beating the Reds 3-1 in the final of the 2017-18 season's tournament. The victory established Real as one of the, if not the single, greatest club team of all time.

Almost three years later, Real are nowhere near the pantheon-level territory they once occupied. They were not expected to be serious contenders for silverware this season; La Liga and the Champions League included. However, they took a step closer to yet another Champions League title by once again beating Liverpool 3-1, this time in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal tie. Vinícius Júnior's two goals either side of Marco Asensio's strike gave Los Merengues a commanding lead heading into the second leg. They are now all but certain to make the semifinals for the ninth time in the last 11 seasons.

Real's role reversal since their 2018 triumph has been easily noticeable. Ever since the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus that off-season, they have only claimed one title: last season's La Liga title. They have been knocked out of the Champions League in the round of 16 in both of the past two seasons and are not expected to retain their La Liga title.

In addition, unlike what has often been the case, Real Madrid did not make any signings during either of this season's transfer windows. Several players who, while not necessarily regular starters, were nevertheless notable contributors also left the club, significantly reducing the roster's depth.

Real's cause has not been helped by the injury woes of star winger Eden Hazard. Almost inexplicably, Hazard's body seemingly disintegrated upon his arrival at Real from Chelsea in 2019. Prior to the 2019-20 season, Hazard had played in at least 30 league matches in each of the preceding 11 campaigns. Since then, however, the Belgian has only featured in 25 La Liga matches - an alarming figure, considering the fact that Real signed him for an eye-popping €100 million.

Yet somehow, in their new role as underdogs, Real have been defying expectations this season. The recent slump experienced by crosstown rivals and league leaders Atlético Madrid has allowed Real to close to within three points of Atlético. They are also likely to make the Champions League final because they will likely play against Chelsea in the semifinal. This is a matchup which is very much in Real's favour.

Perhaps the most impressive part of Real Madrid's success this season has been the fact that this is an aging squad. Players such as Karim Benzema, Sergio Ramos, Toni Kroos, and Luka Modrić who are all in the latter portions of their respective careers are having impressive seasons. Many would have expected the age-related drop-off to have come this season, but they have clearly staved it off - at least for now.

This season also has to rank among head coach Zinedine Zidane's most impressive coaching displays to date. That may be a very big claim indeed, given the fact that he presided over Real's historic run of three straight Champions League titles. However, when considering the general expectations of Real heading into the season, "Zizou" has exceeded them and then some. Even if Real finish the season without a trophy, Zidane ought to once again be considered for another The Best FIFA Football Coach award - an accolade he last won in 2017.

It is also possible that the lack of expectations has helped Real this season. Over the years, Real Madrid squads have been burdened by the weight of having to live up to the reputation of the world's most successful football club. This in turn has sometimes caused them to underperform on the biggest stages. However, this season, Real have been playing with a lack of inhibition that hasn't always been there in the post-Ronaldo era; it isn't out of the question that this is because of their newfound underdog status.

Though it does not seem likely that Real will add a record-extending 14th Champions League title to their overflowing trophy cabinet this season, for the reasons mentioned, it would be by far their most satisfying and thrilling victory if they were to somehow do it.

The Weekly Take, Issue 136: They Surely Can't Fire Him Now

The standout fixture of the latest La Liga matchday was the latest edition of the Madrid derby. Real Madrid emerged with an impressive 2-0 victory over city rivals Atlético Madrid. Casemiro opened the scoring in the 15th minute. In the second half, an own goal scored by Jan Oblak off Dani Carvajal's shot that struck the post ensured Real's victory.

Real's win put Los Merengues within three points of Atlético, who currently lead the league. It also eased the pressure on head coach Zinedine Zidane. Rumours that Zidane might soon be fired have been circulating for some time now. They only intensified after a recent slump in form.

However, the events of the derby showed that not only would it be a colossal mistake on Real's part if they were to fire the Frenchman; the club's top brass ought to pull out all the stops to make sure that Zidane remains in the Santiago Bernabéu dugout for the foreseeable future.

Consider the fact that although Zidane was going up against one of the top five overall coaches and perhaps the best pure strategist in the world in his Atlético counterpart Diego Simeone, it was in large part thanks to Zidane that Real Madrid came away victorious. His tactical setup was on point, his substitutions were timely and effective, and he ably adjusted to everything Simeone threw at him. It's not often that a great coach like Simeone is so decisively countered. Yet, that's exactly what happened against Real.

I'd actually say that "Zizou" is the most underrated coach in world football at the moment. After all, no one else has ever led a team to three consecutive Champions League titles - that fact alone speaks for itself. While his detractors may claim that his Real Madrid team of 2016 to 2018 was carried to those titles by Cristiano Ronaldo, consider this: to win those three straight European crowns, Real beat Simeone's Atlético in 2016, Massimiliano Allegri's Juventus in 2017, and Jürgen Klopp's Liverpool in 2018. For those counting, that would be two all-time great coaches and one excellent one.

Last season was Zidane's first full season in his second stint at the helm of Real. Notably, it was also his first full season as Real head coach since Ronaldo's departure for Juve in the 2018 off-season. Despite having a squad which was clearly weaker to that of his first go-around, Zidane led Real to the league title, finishing ahead of arch-rivals Barcelona by five points. This league triumph came despite key players such as Eden Hazard and Gareth Bale missing large portions of the season through injury.

What Zidane had to deal with upon his return to Real cannot be overlooked either. When he replaced Santiago Solari in March 2019, Real were a club in disarray. They were nowhere near either Barça or Atlético in the league. They had also been knocked out of the Champions League in the round of 16 after an upset loss against Ajax. Fast forward almost two years later and Real, despite currently trailing Atlético in La Liga, are likely to claim back-to-back league titles for the first time since 2008. They also topped a tough Champions League group containing Inter Milan, Shakhtar Donetsk, and Borussia Mönchengladbach.

Real's front office is notorious for being trigger-happy with regard to coaches. However, if they break with their history and retain Zidane's services for an extended time period, the club will be likely to experience much current and future success. Given Zidane's track record to date, there is no reason why he shouldn't remain at Real for at least a decade, racking up titles along the way while establishing himself as perhaps the greatest coach in Real's history - and maybe, just maybe, of all time.

It is beyond crucial that Real do not act in their usual knee-jerk manner, especially if results start going against them later in the season. Zidane has clearly built up a body of work which clearly proves that he is an outstanding coach. Firing him would be an epic mistake of almost unparalleled proportions.

The decision should be obvious. Only one question remains: will Real finally "get it", or will they revert to type?