Real Madrid 6-4 Barcelona

Winning a domestic double or even a treble is a tall order and only a handful of European clubs can claim such a feat.

Given all their silverware and despite the fact that they are one of the most decorated clubs in world football, Real Madrid have never scooped the traditional treble of domestic league, cup and Champions League but this year could see that change.

In the previous incarnation of the football calendar, only two clubs ever managed to claim every available title in any given season with Pep Guardiola’s FC Barcelona first achieving the feat back in 2009 winning LaLiga, Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup along with the Champions League, European Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup before FC Bayern Munich repeated the sweep in 2020.

As recently as 2023, Manchester City went close scooping five titles but falling short with a FA Community Shield loss to Arsenal. This season however, offers an additional tilt at a major honour with the introduction of the expanded FIFA Club World Cup with Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid the two competing LaLiga representatives.

• Also: Real Madrid 166 - Barça 156

Barça gunning for four titles

Hansi Flick’s side remain in contention in three competitions: they top the league table and face Atletico in the second leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final in early April with the first game ending 4-4. The Catalan side are also strongly tipped to lift the Champions League in Munich in May. Barça face Dortmund in the quarterfinal and should they advance will take on the winners of Inter-Bayern.

As things stand, Barcelona are looking to add to their Spanish Super Cup title after they comprehensively beat Real Madrid in the Jeddah final last January.

Madrid with two titles in the bag

Real Madrid’s season started in Warsaw last August as they brushed Serie A’s Atalanta aside in the UEFA Super Cup final with new signing Kylian Mbappé making his debut and bagging the second goal as part of a 2-0 win the over Bergamo based outfit.

Title number two fell in Doha in December as Liga MX outfit CF Pachuca were outclassed by the Santiago Bernabeu side as part of a 3-0 win with coach Ancelotti bagging his 15th title on the Madrid bench as they scooped the FIFA Intercontinental Cup.

Following the Spanish Super Cup disappointment, Real Madrid too are in the hunt for another four honours in this 24-25 season.

Currently in second place in LaLiga, ‘Los Blancos’ too have reached the semi-final of the Copa del Rey where they hold a 1-0 advantage over Real Sociedad.

After the penalty shoot-drama in the Round of 16 of the Champions League, Ancelotti’s men are paired with Arsenal in the quarterfinals with the winners of PSG-Aston Villa awaiting.

The Club World Cup offers a final tilt at a title with Madrid pitted in Group H along with Al Hilal, Salzburg and Pachuca.

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.