Real Madrid have had a mixed start to the season and are currently three points behind Barcelona at the top of the La Liga standings. Carlo Ancelotti’s team recovered from their UCL defeat at Lille with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Villareal at the Santiago Bernabeu before the second International break of the 2024/25 season.
Although strengthening their forces with the summer transfer window, with the addition of Kylian Mbappe and Endrick, Carlo Ancelotti’s team has failed to replicate their early success in the 2023/24 season where they eventually became Champions in La Liga and won a 15th UCL title. To close the gap on their long-term rivals, Los Blancos will need to be at their very best to win crucial that will put them back to the top of the Spanish League, and fight for a commanding spot in the Champions League – League phase.
The road to a long-term comeback this coming month will be long but possible for the Los Blancos. The Galacticos are expected to return from International duty on Tuesday, 15th of October ahead of their La Liga game on Saturday. The upcoming fixtures won’t be any easier than their previous eleven since the start of the season. They face a pack of familiar faces as their toughest opponents across competitions. While the players have little time to rest and prepare, a lot is at risk in the coming month, and it could decide the season’s outcome for Carlo Ancelotti and his squad.
This article highlights Real Madrid’s next six tough games in the La Liga and UEFA Champions League before the next international break in mid-November.
1. Real Madrid vs. Borussia Dortmund – Champions League
Date: Tuesday, October 22, 2024 (Kickoff: 20:00 CET)
Venue: Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid
It will be a replay of the last UCL finals when Los Blancos welcomes the Black and Yellow to a tightly contested encounter for Matchday 3 of the UCL League phase. This game will bring back memories of joy for the home side and heartbreak for Dortmund fans following Real Madrid’s 2-0 victory at the 2023/24 finals in Wembley last few months.
Nuri Sahin’s Borussia Dortmund team haven’t been on their best performance this season, sitting in seventh place in the Bundesliga following a 2-1 defeat to Union Berlin before the break. But in the UCL, the German team has been on fire, sitting in the top spot of the League phase after their 7-1 demolition of the Celtics and 3-0 victory at Club Brugge. They will now look forward to exacting revenge on the Spanish champions on the European stage.
Real Madrid will fight to see off a victory in the game following their 1-0 defeat to Lille on Matchday 2. The more points they gather in the UCL League phase games, the more likely they will set the road for a successful title defense. With seven wins in their last 15 meetings on the European stage, Los Blancos will hope the favor of history and home advantage falls at their side. A win here will boost their chances of returning to the top of the League and soften the pressure from their remaining encounters.
2. Real Madrid vs. Barcelona – El Clásico, La Liga
Date: Saturday, October 26, 2024 (Kickoff: 20:00 CET)
Venue: Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid
The iconic El Clásico sets center stage again this October, and would be Madrid’s toughest game this month. Fresh off the exhausting encounter with Dortmund, Los Blancos welcomes their closest rivals for a more intense battle for the top spot in the La Liga table. Just three points separates the two teams (before the change following the previous fixture) with Barcelona having the higher share of goal differences.
In recent clashes, both teams have upset each other’s title claim with significant victories in both the League and Spanish Cups. Madrid aced Barcelona twice earlier this year at the Santiago Bernabeu before falling to a 2-1 victory to the newly reformed Hansi Flick side in their August pre-season tour at the U.S.A. Barcelona might have the upper hand but nothing is certain when it comes to the encounters between these two.
The 2024 Ballon d’Or is at the corner, and with both teams (especially Real Madrid) having high-running performers to claim the award, it would be a great scenery for fans worldwide to witness the nominees in action at the toughest of competitions. The game is a perfect opportunity for Madrid to close the gap at the top of the table and boost their aspirations to reclaim the La Liga title. A defeat, however, will further strain the title away from them.
3. Valencia vs. Real Madrid – La Liga
Date: Saturday, November 2, 2024 (Kickoff: 20:00 CET)
Venue: Estadio de Mestalla, Valencia
Following El Clásico, Carlo Ancelotti and his squad will travel to play another tough away game against Valencia at the Mestalla. Traditionally one of the more challenging stadiums to play in, Real Madrid has failed to win in the stadium against Los Ches since 19th September 2021. Madrid has often found themselves in hard-fought battles in Valencia. Earlier this year, Madrid escaped with a 2-2 draw on their road to La Liga victory.
Valencia has had a very challenging start to the season and sits in the relegation zone (18th) after claiming one win and six points in nine games. Their worst start to say the least. They now seek refuge in future games to reclaim their dominance in the Spanish League and attempt a European spot finish. Their strength lies in their organized defense and counter-attacking players which will be a troubling point for Carlo Ancelotti’s teams, who still struggle with defensive options to replace injured players.
Carlo Ancelotti may look to rotate his squad after the demanding schedule leading up to this game, but it remains critical that Madrid secure a win to keep pace with Barcelona in the title race.
4. Real Madrid vs. AC Milan Champions League
Date: Tuesday, November 5, 2024 (Kickoff: 20:00 CET)
Venue: Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid
The Champions League continues with a heavyweight clash between Real Madrid and AC Milan at the Bernabéu in Gameweek 4. The two teams are the most successful in the competition (RMD-15, ACM-7), boasting a pool of talented players.
These two European giants have met 15 times in the competition, with both sides having six victories to their names and 3 draws in between. They last met at the Group stages of the 2010/11 season with remarkable performances still appreciated to this day. AC Milan has zero points from two games in the UCL League phase and is at the bottom of the Standings. Like Madrid, they will be fighting for a comeback to secure all possible points to boost them to the knockout rounds. A win would likely see Real Madrid take a strong position in the standings, while a loss could put them in a more vulnerable situation heading into the final League matches.
5. Real Madrid vs. Osasuna – La Liga
Date: Saturday, November 9, 2024 (Kickoff: 13:00 CET)
Venue: Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid
Real Madrid will face Osasuna in their final game before the third International break of the season. The Vicente Moreno lead team remains the only side to beat Group leaders FC Barcelona this season. They sit fifth in the Standings and are vying for a place in Europe in the coming season.
Real Madrid must be wary of the threat they pose and put up an outstanding performance to ensure they don’t drop points like their rivals did in this crucial stage of Spanish football. It’s also an opportunity to rotate and rest some players after tough games to prevent more strains and injuries in the squad.
REAL MADRID TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE!
Available Real Madrid tickets are currently in high demand. Grab yours quickly through a secondary ticket marketplace and be able to explore seat maps and compare prices for ideal spots at the venues. The upcoming matches will be both interesting and electrifying. From Champions League football to La Liga matches, Real Madrid’s hopes to replicate their success in the 2023/24 season are underway. Secure your tickets today and be part of the journey. Cheer Los Blancos on as they push through these intense games through the season.
