logo
Real Madrid's 2024-25 season review 📝

Real Madrid's 2024-25 season review 📝

Yahoo26-05-2025

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.
The 2024-25 season has come to an end for Real Madrid, what's the verdict?
The big story of the season ⚠️
The arrival and integration of Kylian Mbappé, without a doubt. After a transfer saga that lasted several years, the French world champion landed in the Spanish capital from PSG. His adaptation was initially mixed with goals in La Liga, but also absences in big games like the October Clasico, or the clashes against Milan and Liverpool in the Champions League.
Advertisement
And then, there was a turning point! Author of a sensational match against Manchester City, the French striker rediscovered his genius. He finishes the season with 43 goals. No one has ever done better in their first season at Real. Enough to win the Golden Shoe 2024-25!
The balance in Spain 🇪🇸
A season without a title is always a failure for Real Madrid. Second in La Liga and runner-up in the Copa del Rey and the Supercopa, the Madrid institution never managed to compete with a much stronger Barça.
In the four Clasicos played, the Merengues suffered major setbacks, conceding at least four goals each time. Unprecedented!
Advertisement
The defense was often the weak point for the Merengues. In La Liga, 38 goals were conceded, and Ancelotti's men only rank 5th among the league's defenses. Too light to claim the title.
The balance in Europe 🇪🇺
A bit like in La Liga, a Real that doesn't make it to the Champions League semifinals is a Real that has failed.
After a contrasting group stage where the partners of Vinicius lost three times, including against Lille, the defending champion got back on track.
We won't forget the crazy match against City in the round of 16 with two victories. The derby against Atlético also showed the collective strength that this team could muster.
Advertisement
We also saw its limitations against Arsenal, where no miracle happened with two clear defeats (2-1, 3-0) in the quarterfinals.
They delivered 🤩
Among the satisfactions of Real's season, we can mention Kylian Mbappé, the top scorer, but also Vinicius, the top assist provider. If the duo didn't always work, this season of fine-tuning still brought some nice certainties for next year.
Among the satisfactions, we can also mention Bellingham, who confirmed his status as an indispensable player, but also Federico Valverde, versatile, reliable, and decisive.
They raised questions 🤔
Recurring injuries also weighed heavily on Real this season. Eder Militao, injured in the ligaments, hasn't played since November. In defense, David Alaba and Ferland Mendy also missed several weeks of competition. There were also more inconsistent profiles like Brahim Diaz and Rodrygo.
Summer 2025 ☀️
The major works have already begun with the official arrivals of Dean Huijsen and Xabi Alonso, pending Trent Alexander-Arnold. We can imagine that the Merengue club will seek to strengthen its defense and midfield. Among the rumored targets, we're talking about Alvaro Carreras and Florian Wirtz. To be continued!
Are you a football expert? Prove it with the weekend quiz.
Also read:
- Xabi Alonso facing a massive task at Real Madrid
- Kylian Mbappé officially Golden Shoe 2024-25
📸 LLUIS GENE - AFP or licensors

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

French Open: Coco Gauff faces a Frenchwoman ranked 361st in the semifinals. Djokovic, Sinner win
French Open: Coco Gauff faces a Frenchwoman ranked 361st in the semifinals. Djokovic, Sinner win

Yahoo

time15 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

French Open: Coco Gauff faces a Frenchwoman ranked 361st in the semifinals. Djokovic, Sinner win

PARIS (AP) — That No. 2 seed Coco Gauff reached Thursday's French Open semifinals should surprise no one. Her 361st-ranked opponent for a berth in the title match? That's a whole other story. Gauff made it to the final four at Roland-Garros for the third time, getting past No. 7 Madison Keys 6-7 (6), 6-4, 6-1 on Wednesday in a quarterfinal between two Americans who both have won a major title. Advertisement Next up for 2023 U.S. Open champion Gauff? A matchup against French wild-card entry Loïs Boisson, who extended one of the most stunning runs in tennis history by beating No. 6 Mirra Andreeva 7-6 (6), 6-3. 'Unbelievable,' Boisson said. 'Incredible.' Those are a couple of good words for what's been happening. A year ago, Boisson was supposed to make her Grand Slam debut in Paris, but she tore a knee ligament and couldn't compete. Now 22, Boisson is the first woman to get to the semifinals of her first major tournament since Monica Seles and Jennifer Capriati did it at the 1989 French Open and is the lowest-ranked to get that far at Roland-Garros in at least 40 years. Advertisement She's doing it with a game made for clay, anchored by heavy groundstrokes and buoyed by a rowdy, partisan crowd that rattled the 18-year-old Andreeva — she was warned for ball abuse for smacking one toward the upper deck after one bad volley — and was just as loud when Boisson upset No. 3 Jessica Pegula in the fourth round. 'I love to play with the crowd. I love to hear my name when I won a point and everything,' Boisson said. 'For me, it's just something plus. It's not pressure. But I think it's also really difficult for (a) player from (another) country.' Over and over again, the chair umpire tried to tell the 15,000 or so spectators to be quiet as their thunderous applause and shouts of Boisson's first name reverberated off the inside of the closed roof at Court Philippe-Chatrier. They didn't heed those requests. They jeered and whistled when Andreeva complained about noise between her first and second serves or argued line calls. 'It's normal that they would support a French player, so I knew that it's going to be like this. I think that in the first set, I managed it pretty well (and) I didn't really pay attention to that,' Andreeva said. 'But obviously with nerves and with pressure, it became a little harder.' Advertisement When the match ended, Boisson collapsed to her back, chest heaving and hands on her face. When she rose, there were flecks of rust-colored clay all over, including her forehead. No matter what happens the rest of the way, Boisson certainly has left her mark on the 2025 French Open. 'I think every kid who plays tennis has the dream to win a Slam. More for a French player to win Roland Garros, for sure,' she said. 'So, yeah, it's a dream. For sure, I will go for the dream — because my dream is to win it, not to be in the semifinal.' What else happened at the French Open on Wednesday? Novak Djokovic and No. 1 Jannik Sinner set up a semifinal showdown with victories. Djokovic reached his record 51st Grand Slam semifinal as he pursues his 25th major championship with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 win over No. 3 Alexander Zverev, last year's runner-up. And Sinner got back to the semifinals in Paris for the second year in a row with his latest overpowering performance, defeating unseeded Alexander Bublik 6-1, 7-5, 6-0 in under two hours. Sinner has dropped just 36 games through five matches. Advertisement Who plays at Roland-Garros on Thursday? The two women's semifinals are the only singles matches on the Day 12 schedule, with three-time defending champion Iga Swiatek facing No. 1-ranked Aryna Sabalenka in just their second matchup at a Grand Slam tournament, and Gauff meeting Boisson. The men's semifinals are Friday, including defending champion Carlos Alcaraz vs. Lorenzo Musetti. ___ Howard Fendrich has been the AP's tennis writer since 2002. Find his stories here: More AP tennis: Howard Fendrich, The Associated Press

More changes at Man United as Dave Brailsford scales back role with the troubled club
More changes at Man United as Dave Brailsford scales back role with the troubled club

Hamilton Spectator

time18 minutes ago

  • Hamilton Spectator

More changes at Man United as Dave Brailsford scales back role with the troubled club

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester United's soccer operations are undergoing yet more change with one of its key figures Dave Brailsford scaling back his role with the troubled club, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the information has not been made public. Brailsford, who was credited for his role in British cycling's spectacular Olympic success in recent years, was a key component of billionaire Jim Ratcliffe's United overhaul following his minority investment in the club last year. But things haven't gone to plan , with the 20-time English champion suffering its lowest finish in the Premier League era last season — 15th — and recording its lowest points total and highest number of losses. Brailsford, who is also sporting director for Ratcliffe's petrochemicals firm INEOS, will remain in that role and also as a United director. However his day-to-day involvement will be reduced, the person said. It is the latest in a slew of changes at United over the past year since Ratcliffe paid $1.3 billion for an initial 25% stake in United, assumed control of its soccer operations from majority owners the Glazer family and vowed to bring the good times back. In that time there have been high-profile hirings and firings, as well new lows on the field and job cuts. Former manager Erik ten Hag went in October — just three months after being handed a one-year contract extension. Director of football Dan Ashworth left the club less than six months into the job and following lengthy negotiations to pry him away from Newcastle. Omar Berrada was lured from Manchester City to become CEO and Jason Wilcox, formerly director of City's academy, became technical director. They remain in position as two key members of the leadership team above coach Ruben Amorim. ___ James Robson is at ___ AP soccer:

French Open: Coco Gauff faces a Frenchwoman ranked 361st in the semifinals. Djokovic, Sinner win
French Open: Coco Gauff faces a Frenchwoman ranked 361st in the semifinals. Djokovic, Sinner win

Hamilton Spectator

time18 minutes ago

  • Hamilton Spectator

French Open: Coco Gauff faces a Frenchwoman ranked 361st in the semifinals. Djokovic, Sinner win

PARIS (AP) — That No. 2 seed Coco Gauff reached Thursday's French Open semifinals should surprise no one. Her 361st-ranked opponent for a berth in the title match? That's a whole other story. Gauff made it to the final four at Roland-Garros for the third time, getting past No. 7 Madison Keys 6-7 (6), 6-4, 6-1 on Wednesday in a quarterfinal between two Americans who both have won a major title. Next up for 2023 U.S. Open champion Gauff? A matchup against French wild-card entry Loïs Boisson , who extended one of the most stunning runs in tennis history by beating No. 6 Mirra Andreeva 7-6 (6), 6-3. 'Unbelievable,' Boisson said. 'Incredible.' Those are a couple of good words for what's been happening. A year ago, Boisson was supposed to make her Grand Slam debut in Paris, but she tore a knee ligament and couldn't compete. Now 22, Boisson is the first woman to get to the semifinals of her first major tournament since Monica Seles and Jennifer Capriati did it at the 1989 French Open and is the lowest-ranked to get that far at Roland-Garros in at least 40 years. She's doing it with a game made for clay, anchored by heavy groundstrokes and buoyed by a rowdy, partisan crowd that rattled the 18-year-old Andreeva — she was warned for ball abuse for smacking one toward the upper deck after one bad volley — and was just as loud when Boisson upset No. 3 Jessica Pegula in the fourth round. 'I love to play with the crowd. I love to hear my name when I won a point and everything,' Boisson said. 'For me, it's just something plus. It's not pressure. But I think it's also really difficult for (a) player from (another) country.' Over and over again, the chair umpire tried to tell the 15,000 or so spectators to be quiet as their thunderous applause and shouts of Boisson's first name reverberated off the inside of the closed roof at Court Philippe-Chatrier. They didn't heed those requests. They jeered and whistled when Andreeva complained about noise between her first and second serves or argued line calls . 'It's normal that they would support a French player, so I knew that it's going to be like this. I think that in the first set, I managed it pretty well (and) I didn't really pay attention to that,' Andreeva said. 'But obviously with nerves and with pressure, it became a little harder.' When the match ended, Boisson collapsed to her back, chest heaving and hands on her face. When she rose, there were flecks of rust-colored clay all over, including her forehead. No matter what happens the rest of the way, Boisson certainly has left her mark on the 2025 French Open. 'I think every kid who plays tennis has the dream to win a Slam. More for a French player to win Roland Garros, for sure,' she said. 'So, yeah, it's a dream. For sure, I will go for the dream — because my dream is to win it, not to be in the semifinal.' What else happened at the French Open on Wednesday? Novak Djokovic and No. 1 Jannik Sinner set up a semifinal showdown with victories. Djokovic reached his record 51st Grand Slam semifinal as he pursues his 25th major championship with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 win over No. 3 Alexander Zverev, last year's runner-up. And Sinner got back to the semifinals in Paris for the second year in a row with his latest overpowering performance, defeating unseeded Alexander Bublik 6-1, 7-5, 6-0 in under two hours. Sinner has dropped just 36 games through five matches. Who plays at Roland-Garros on Thursday? The two women's semifinals are the only singles matches on the Day 12 schedule, with three-time defending champion Iga Swiatek facing No. 1-ranked Aryna Sabalenka in just their second matchup at a Grand Slam tournament, and Gauff meeting Boisson. The men's semifinals are Friday, including defending champion Carlos Alcaraz vs. Lorenzo Musetti. ___ Howard Fendrich has been the AP's tennis writer since 2002. Find his stories here: . More AP tennis:

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store