In the past seven days, Real Madrid shared points with 18th placed Villarreal and lost 2-0 to the then 16th placed Real Sociedad. In the process, they lost star midfielder Toni Kroos to an injury which could rule him out for up to four weeks.
It would not be hyperbole to state that the worst is probably yet to come for the European champions. All of their next eight opponents in La Liga are currently sitting in the top half of the table.
Here, we look at eight matches that are crucial to Los Blancos’ Champions League qualifying hopes.
REAL BETIS v REAL MADRID
Reverse fixture – N/A
Santiago Solari’s men begin their demanding stretch of games at the Benito Villamarin on Sunday as they take on a Real Betis side brimming with confidence.
The same fixture saw Madrid prevail in a 5-3 thriller last season but the hosts did trouble Zinedine Zidane’s men and dominated the game for large spells. A win at Villamarin will not be easy for Madrid.
Predicted score-line: Real Betis 2-2 Real Madrid
REAL MADRID v SEVILLA
Reverse fixture: Sevilla 3-0 Real Madrid
Next, Madrid host Sevilla – a team who beat them 3-0 in September and set the ball rolling for their crisis. Despite the fixture being played at the Bernabeu, the visitors start as favourites, given the recent form of both teams.
Predicted score-line: Real Madrid 1-2 Sevilla
ESPANYOL v REAL MADRID
Reverse fixture: Real madrid 1-0 Espanyol
Los Blancos then travel to Catalonia to face eighth placed Espanyol. When the same fixture was played at the Bernabeu back in September, the hosts edged the Barcelona-based team 1-0. However, Madrid should be able to dispose of Rubi’s side who are in poor form themselves.
Predicted score-line: Espanyol 0-2 Real Madrid
REAL MADRID v ALAVES
Reverse fixture: Alaves 1-0 Real Madrid
Fourth placed Alaves will be Solari’s next test on February 2. Abelardo Fernández’s men will travel to the Spanish capital, hoping to repeat their performance at the Mendizorrotza earlier this campaign when they edged Los Blancos 1-0 to steal all three points.
Predicted score-line: Real Madrid 1-1 Alaves
ATLETICO MADRID v REAL MADRID
Reverse fixture: Real Madrid 0-0 Atletico Madrid
Following this is the Madrid Derby at the Wanda Metropolitano where Diego Simeone’s men wait eagerly to get one over their historic rivals. The pair played out a goalless draw at the Bernabeu in September – a result Atletico gladly took. The hosts will hold the advantage in this game, if the current form of both teams is anything to go by.
Predicted score-line: Atletico Madrid 2-1 Real Madrid
REAL MADRID v GIRONA
Reverse fixture: Girona 1-4 Real Madrid
Girona will be Real Madrid’s next challenge. This will probably be the least complicated fixture for the European champions. They host a team they beat 4-1 away back in August. There is no reason why Solari’s men should not romp to a comfortable win here, given Girona are struggling and could be out of the top 10 soon.
Predicted score-line: Real Madrid 3-1 Girona
LEVANTE v REAL MADRID
Reverse fixture: Real Madrid 1-2 Levante
Los Blancos then travel to Valencia to take on Levante on February 24. The Granotas pulled off an upset at the Bernabeu earlier this season, winning 2-1. The visitors owe this score-line to terrible finishing and could have had at least two more goals on the board in that fixture.
Predicted score-line: Levante 1-1 Real Madrid
REAL MADRID v BARCELONA
Reverse fixture: Barcelona 5-1 Real Madrid
At the end of this terrible stretch lie league leaders Barcelona on March 3.
Madrid are guilty of a terrible home record against Barcelona in the league recently, with the last three score-lines reading 0-3, 2-3 and 0-4 – all in favour of Barcelona.
Predicted scoreline: Real Madrid 2-2 Barcelona
VERDICT
This will be Madrid’s first encounter with Betis this season. But against the other seven teams, Los Blancos managed to garner just seven points out of 21 in the reverse fixtures.
If the predicted score-lines – which are balanced between optimism and pragmatism – are considered, Los Blancos will collect around 10 points from these fixtures.
Surely the next two months will be crucial in determining whether the European champions will be enjoying Champions League football next season.