How Zidane's Real Madrid BROKE European Football

How Zinedine Zidane's Real Madrid Dominated European Football

The Rise of Real Madrid Under Zidane

• In just three seasons, Real Madrid won nine trophies under manager Zinedine Zidane, who had no prior first-team coaching experience.

• The 2014-15 season was disappointing for Real Madrid, finishing trophyless and two points behind Barcelona in La Liga while losing in the Champions League semifinals to Juventus.

• Despite a lack of trophies, Real Madrid was the highest-scoring team in Europe that season, with Cristiano Ronaldo having his best individual performance.

• The team faced challenges due to player transitions; key players like Xabi Alonso and Di Maria left while new signings like Keylor Navas and James Rodríguez arrived.

• Carlo Ancelotti was dismissed at the end of the 2014-15 season due to poor results, leading to Rafa Benitez's appointment as manager.

Challenges Faced by Rafa Benitez

• The 2015-16 season began poorly under Benitez, highlighted by a goalless draw against Sporting Gijón followed by four consecutive wins but inconsistent performances thereafter.

• A rocky start included back-to-back draws and significant losses: a 3-2 defeat to Sevilla and a heavy 4-nil loss to Barcelona in El Clásico.

• Disqualification from Copa del Rey occurred early on due to fielding an ineligible player despite winning their opening match.

• In the Champions League group stage, Real Madrid excelled with five wins and one draw, culminating in an impressive 8-nil victory over Malmö FF where Ronaldo scored four goals.

Transitioning Leadership to Zidane

• Midseason struggles led Florentino Pérez to sack Benitez; Zidane was promoted despite skepticism about his managerial capabilities given his lack of experience.

• Zidane’s era began with a resounding 5-nil win over Deportivo La Coruña featuring a hat-trick from Gareth Bale.

• One of Zidane's first strategic moves was introducing Casemiro into the starting lineup after he had been primarily a squad player until then.

Turning Point of the Season

• After facing setbacks including drawing against Málaga and losing to Atlético Madrid, Real Madrid found themselves trailing Barcelona by 12 points at one point during February.

• From March onwards, they went on an impressive winning streak in La Liga that included defeating Barcelona away from home, ending their unbeaten run with dramatic late-game heroics.

Achievements Despite Setbacks

• By May, although they finished second in La Liga behind Barcelona by just one point after beating Deportivo La Coruña thanks to Ronaldo’s brace, their true success lay elsewhere this season.

Real Madrid's Journey to Champions League Glory

Early Stages and Team Transformation

• Real Madrid advanced to the semi-finals after a 1-0 win in the second leg against Manchester City, setting up a final clash with their city rivals.

• Zinedine Zidane, who took over just five months prior, transformed the team with key players like Kaylor Navas, Ramos, Pepe, Marcelo, Carvajal, Casemiro, Kroos, Modric, and the attacking trio known as BBC (Bale, Benzema, Cristiano).

Champions League Final and Victory

• The match against Atletico Madrid saw Ramos score early; despite Griezmann missing a penalty for Atletico, they equalized late. The game went to penalties where Real Madrid triumphed.

• Ronaldo's performance was pivotal as he finished the tournament with 16 goals and won his fourth Ballon d'Or while Zidane began his historic tenure.

Challenges in the Following Season

• In Zidane's first full season as coach, doubts arose about whether increased expectations would pressure the team; however, they thrived with new signings like Marco Asensio and Alvaro Morata.

• Zidane started losing trust in Bale due to injuries and attitude issues leading to more rotations in the front line.

Mid-season Performance

• After an impressive start including a Super Cup victory and four consecutive wins in La Liga and Champions League group stages, Real faced challenges with four consecutive draws.

• A significant rivalry emerged between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid during this period; notable matches included a hat-trick from Cristiano against Atletico.

Knockout Stage Controversies

• Despite finishing second in their Champions League group stage due to three draws but remaining unbeaten until January 17 when they lost against Sevilla.

• They faced controversy in the quarterfinals where they came back from trailing 2-1 to win 4-2 against Bayern Munich thanks to Ronaldo’s brace.

Path to Back-to-back Titles

• In semifinals against Atletico Madrid again saw Ronaldo score a hat-trick securing their place in the finals against Juventus.

• The La Liga title race concluded dramatically on the last day of the season with Real winning 2-nil over Malaga thanks to goals from Ronaldo and Benzema.

Champions League Final Against Juventus

• In pursuit of back-to-back titles for the first time since modern era began; changes were made in formation compared to previous year’s final.

• Ronaldo opened scoring early; despite Juventus equalizing briefly through Muk’s goal, Real dominated ultimately winning 4–1.

Real Madrid's Quest for a Three-Peat

Season Overview and Challenges

• Real Madrid, under Zinedine Zidane, aimed to solidify their legacy by pursuing a third consecutive Champions League title after being named the world's best coach.

• The 2017-18 season began with significant player departures, including Pepe and James Rodríguez, while new signings like Theo Hernandez were introduced amidst skepticism about their ability to achieve a three-peat.

• Controversy arose early in the season when Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off during the Spanish Super Cup, leading to inconsistent performances in La Liga where they struggled against Barcelona.

Champions League Journey

• Despite domestic struggles, Real Madrid excelled in the Champions League, starting with a strong group stage performance highlighted by Ronaldo setting a record for scoring in every match.

• They faced challenges in La Liga but managed to win the Club World Cup again; however, doubts lingered as they finished third in La Liga behind Barcelona.

Knockout Stages and Historic Matches

• In the knockout stages of the Champions League, Real Madrid defeated PSG convincingly and repeated their success against Juventus from the previous year.

• A memorable moment occurred when Ronaldo scored one of his greatest goals at Juventus' stadium during their first leg match.

Semi-Finals and Final Showdown

• In an intense semi-final against Bayern Munich, Real Madrid advanced to their third consecutive final after winning 2-1 at home and drawing away.

• The final pitted them against Liverpool; Zidane retained his lineup from last year's final due to its success.

Key Moments in the Final

• The match took a turn when Mo Salah was injured early on due to a tackle by Sergio Ramos. This incident sparked debate among fans regarding intent.

• Benzema opened scoring following an error from Liverpool's goalkeeper Loris Karius. Mane equalized shortly after but momentum shifted with Zidane's impactful substitution of Gareth Bale.

Bale's Impact and Legacy

• Bale scored an incredible goal just minutes after coming on, reminiscent of Zidane’s famous volley from years prior.

• Another goal followed soon after due to another mistake by Karius. Real Madrid secured victory 3–1, achieving an unprecedented three consecutive Champions League titles.

Aftermath and Future Implications

• Post-match discussions centered around potential departures of key players like Ronaldo and Bale; Ronaldo later announced his move to Juventus.