Chapter 920 - 20: Remaking the Universe
"Chen will start in the second leg!"
At the pre-match press conference, Alonso wore a bitter smile on his face. At times like this, he can only choose to trust his old teammate Chen Zhong.
This Champions League loss to Bayern Munich has left Real Madrid somewhat in shock.
The devastating defeat also ties Real Madrid’s record for the largest margin of loss in the first leg of a Champions League knockout round. The last time Real Madrid suffered a three-goal defeat in the first leg of a Champions League knockout round was the 2012-13 season — back then, Real Madrid lost 1-4 away to Dortmund, with Lewandowski performing heroically, successfully crushing the Galaxy Battleship.
In the second leg, Real Madrid staged a dramatic comeback at home, winning 2-0 against Dortmund, but still being eliminated with a total score of 3-4, missing out on the final. Similarly, last season saw a three-goal defeat to Arsenal in the first leg.
This season, Ancelotti left, and Alonso took charge of Real Madrid, with everyone hopeful for Alonso.
Moreover, his opponent was his old partner, Kompany, who coaches Bayern Munich. Yet nobody expected that they would still lose to the opposition.
In the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals, Real Madrid suffered a 0-3 defeat away to Bayern Munich. This is Real Madrid’s biggest defeat in the Champions League since losing 0-4 to Manchester City in the second leg of the 2022-2023 semi-finals.
With both teams’ current state, even if Real Madrid plays at home in the second leg, the possibility of overturning Bayern Munich is minimal.
Real Madrid’s recent performance is quite poor, failing to win in three consecutive matches, facing major setbacks in the King’s Cup, La Liga, and Champions League, likely transforming a three-line title challenge into nothing at all.
If Real Madrid ends up trophyless this season, significant changes are expected in the summer window, starting with the team’s manager, Alonso!
Of course, Real Madrid might give Alonso more opportunities, it’s not definitive.
Many Real Madrid fans already sensed the difficulty of facing Bayern Munich before the game, as Bayern Munich became increasingly formidable since the start of the FIFA Club World Cup, with their performance in the match demonstrating their growing strength.
Real Madrid’s last Champions League away defeat was a 0-2 loss to Liverpool in the group stage last season. The most painful away defeat was during the 2022-2023 semi-finals second leg, losing 0-4 to Manchester City, and ultimately being eliminated with a total score of 1-5, making away matches a frequent source of regret for Real Madrid.
After losing to Bayern Munich in this match, if including other competitions, Real Madrid has already lost 11 matches this season. Excluding the FIFA Club World Cup, Real Madrid has at least 10 matches left this season, and given the current trajectory, Ancelotti might set a new record for most losses in a single season coaching Real Madrid.
So, is there a chance for Real Madrid to stage a stunning comeback in the second leg?
Putting aside both teams’ current state, historically speaking, the possibility isn’t entirely absent but it’s very slim.
The last time Real Madrid lost by three goals in the first leg of a Champions League knockout round was the 2012-2013 semi-finals first leg, losing 1-4 away to Dortmund. In the second leg at home, they won 2-0 but were still eliminated with a total score of 3-4.
As for why it’s said there’s a slim chance, it’s because Real Madrid once in the 1975-1976 season’s Champions League round of 16 lost the first leg 1-4 to Derby County, then turned around with a 5-1 win in the second leg after extra time, ultimately progressing reversely.
If Real Madrid can turn the tables in the second leg, it will be the first time in 50 years, enough to go down in history!
For Real Madrid, stopping at the Champions League quarter-finals is already a high probability, even more severe is the potential simultaneous collapse in La Liga and the King’s Cup.
Currently, Real Madrid ranks second in La Liga with 63 points, trailing Barcelona by 4 points. With 10 rounds of the league left, Real Madrid cannot afford any mistakes, most importantly, winning against Barcelona away in the 35th round. A loss to Barcelona would almost deliver the championship to their adversary.
Previously, Real Madrid will also compete with Barcelona for the King’s Cup title.
If Real Madrid ends this season empty-handed across the Champions League, La Liga, King’s Cup, and Super Cup, chairman Florentino is bound to initiate a storm within the team post-season.
For Real Madrid, the real upheaval will occur among the players.
Currently, the absolutely safe players are likely only a few: Mbappe, Bellingham, Valverde, and Courtois; the rest might depart.
French defensive midfielders Chuameni and Camavinga, whose value once reached one hundred million Euros, it’s not because their level reached such heights but because of their presence on Real Madrid’s platform. Last season, after being defeated by two free kicks from Rice, Florentino already targeted Rice for transfer, hoping to transplant the England Team’s Bellingham-Rice midfield combination to Real Madrid.
For the leader of La Liga, if England Team’s marquee players are in my squad, what does Premier League have to compete for the world’s number one league?