Real Madrid in poorest shape in a quarter of a century
Real Madrid have not lost so many games across all competitions in a season since 1993-94 and have conceded 60 goals in 49 games.
Real Madrid are just four games away from matching their record for losses in a single season and are currently enduring their worst campaign since 1993-94 having lost for a 15th time in all competitions against Valencia on Wednesday evening.
Zinedine Zidane’s first defeat since his return to the Bernabéu was the latest setback for the reigning European champions, who have now lost nine league games, three Champions League fixtures, two Copa matches and the European Super Cup against Atlético.
In 93-94, Real finished fourth in the league, were knocked out of the Copa by Tenerife, who thrashed them 5-1, and eliminated from the Cup Winners’ Cup by PSG.
Real Madrid could yet record worst season in history
With eight games left and nothing to play for – Wednesday’s loss left Zinedine Zidane’s side 13 points adrift of Barcelona and five behind Atlético – Real have the unwelcome opportunity to match their worst-ever season, 1984-85. In that bizarre campaign, Real finished fifth in LaLiga, were beaten in the last 16 of the Copa by Athletic but managed to win the UEFA Cup by defeating Videoton of Hungary 3-1 over two legs.
Real have been struggling at both ends of the pitch this season under Julen Lopetegui, Santiago Solari and Zidane and are among the poorest three sides in Spain in terms of goals conceded per game: Huesca stand alone in that respect, shipping 61 goals in 32 games (1.9 per game), with Real leaking 60 in 49 games at a rate of 1.22 per match.
Real now have to try and finish the season in as dignified a manner as possible with eight fixtures remaining in LaLiga: Eibar, Leganés, Athletic, Getafe, Rayo, Villarreal, Real Sociedad and Betis. The furthest Real have ever finished behind arch-rivals Barcelona is 17 points – last season and in that 1984-85 campaign, when a win was rewarded with two points instead of three.