- Real Madrid’s struggles deepened after a 2-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield, leaving them 24th in the Champions League standings
- Gareth Bale criticised the team’s lacklustre performances, dismissing injuries as the sole reason for their poor form
- Tactical challenges, injuries to key players, and difficulty integrating stars like Mbappe and Bellingham are complicating Carlo Ancelotti’s efforts to steady the ship
Real Madrid’s struggles continued as they suffered a 2-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield, a result that left the Champions League holders in a dangerous 24th position in the standings.
Gareth Bale, a former Madrid icon and five-time Champions League winner, has given his thoughts on the club’s poor form, suggesting that injuries alone could not explain their recent dip in performance.
Speaking to the press after the game, Bale expressed disappointment at the team's current state,
“There's not a lot working at the moment, I think it's easy to say it's all down to the injuries and stuff like that. But they weren't up to the standard that they would have normally set for themselves.”
This marked Real Madrid’s third loss in their last five games across all competitions, including a demoralising 4-0 defeat in El Clasico and a 3-1 home loss to AC Milan. Against Liverpool, Madrid conceded goals to Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo, while Kylian Mbappe missed a crucial penalty that could have turned the game around. Despite his missed opportunity, Bale defended Mbappe, calling him the “best player in the world,” and stated that the team as a whole was struggling not just Mbappe.
Madrid’s injury woes have been significant, with key players like David Alaba, Dani Carvajal, and Eder Militao sidelined due to cruciate ligament injuries. Additionally, Vinicius Jr., Rodrygo, and Aurelien Tchouameni were unavailable for the clash at Anfield, leaving Carlo Ancelotti to manage a depleted squad.
Football pundit James Horncastle also weighed in on the discussion suggesting that the issues extend beyond injuries, pointing to tactical challenges in accommodating star players Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham in the same lineup. Horncastle remarked,
“It’s one thing to balance a load of superstars; it’s another thing to balance a team with holes everywhere.”
He also mentioned that Bellingham, who played a pivotal role last season by filling Karim Benzema’s scoring void, now has to adapt to playing alongside forwards like Mbappe and Vinicius Jr.
Ancelotti’s side faces mounting pressure as they are now on the brink of playoff qualification in the Champions League’s new league phase. While Liverpool deserved their victory, as Bale acknowledged, Madrid’s current state raises questions about their ability to recover. The road ahead looks challenging for the Spanish giants as Ancelotti seeks to solve the tactical and personnel puzzles plaguing his team.
Real Madrid sets new record with UEFA Super Cup, Mbappé's debut goal
Previously, TheRadar reported that as the European football season begins, Real Madrid wasted no time in reaffirming their European superiority with a 2-0 victory over last season’s Europa League winners, Atalanta, in the UEFA Super Cup.
Kylian Mbappé, who made his much-anticipated debut on Wednesday, August 14, in Warsaw, Poland, found the back of the net after 68 minutes into his Real Madrid career.
