Real Madrid out to end unwanted 17-year streak as 2024/25 LaLiga season begins

Real Madrid have already won their first trophy of the 2024/25 season, Kylian Mbappé scoring on his debut as they defeated Atalanta to lift the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday. Carlo Ancelotti’s side are also firm favourites to defend their LaLiga crown as they start the league season away to Mallorca on Sunday, although they don’t have history on their side.

How Real Madrid won LaLiga in 2023/24

Los Blancos’ 2024/24 title triumph was rarely in doubt from the moment the came from a goal down to defeat Barcelona in the first Clásico of the season in Montjuïc in October. Madrid ultimately won LaLiga by 10 points from the Catalans, losing just once in 38 games. On top of that, they scored the most goals (87) and conceded the fewest (26).

Although they have lost midfield schemer Toni Kroos and veteran campaigner Nacho, the expectation is that the signing of Mbappé will improve them even further. Last season’s LaLiga and Champions League double was achieved without an elite-level striker, which they now have (leaving debates about the France captain’s favoured position aside).

Can Barcelona and Atlético Madrid challenge?

Barça, meanwhile, have signed Dani Olmo and Girona’s Pau Victor as they look to make up the gap under new coach Hansi Flick. Atlético Madrid, another potential challenger, have splashed almost €150 million ($165 million) on Julián Álvarez, Alexander Sorloth and Robin Le Normand, who they will hope can bring them closer to their city rivals.

Despite Real Madrid being hugely successful in the Champions League in recent years, with six victories in 11 seasons, their recent LaLiga record is probably not as impressive as most would expect (although it has improved in the last few years).

Real Madrid’s recent LaLiga record

Their current record of three titles in five seasons is their most successful run since 1986-1990, when they won the league four years in a row. Before Ancelotti’s return to the club in 2021, they had won LaLiga just twice in nine years, while Cristiano Ronaldo, despite scoring 311 goals in 292 league appearances for Real Madrid between 2009 and 2018, only lifted the LaLiga trophy on two occasions.

If Los Merengues are successful in winning the domestic championship for the second season in succession, it will be the first time they have achieved the feat in 17 years.

When was the last time Real Madrid won back-to-back LaLiga titles?

After three years without a league victory, Fabio Capello’s Madrid came out on top in one of the most thrilling title races in recent memory in 2006/07.

Inspired by the return to the team of David Beckham, who had previously been left out after announcing he would be leaving for LA Galaxy at the end of the season, Los Blancos came from behind to defeat Mallorca in their final game and finished ahead of Barcelona by virtue of their superior head-to-head record against them.

Former midfielder Bernd Schuster then took charge for 2007/08 and delivered another title, setting a new record points total in a 20-team division (85), which has since been surpassed every single season. On this occasion, their cushion at the top was rather bigger, with Frank Rijkaard’s Barça in crisis and finishing in third spot, 18 points adrift. Villarreal were runners-up, 10 points behind the champions.