The vibe around the Bernabéu is weird right now. If you just check the app on your phone to see Real Madrid last games, you might see a decent string of results, but anyone actually watching the full 90 minutes knows things feel... heavy. It’s like a luxury engine that’s misfiring just enough to notice. You’ve got the best players in the world, yet they’re grinding out wins that should be effortless. Honestly, it’s a bit of a tactical puzzle that Carlo Ancelotti is trying to solve in real-time, and he's doing it under the harshest spotlight in sports.
Losing Toni Kroos wasn't just losing a midfielder. It was losing the team's heartbeat. Without his ability to dictate the tempo, the transition from defense to attack has become clunky. We’re seeing a lot of "individual brilliance" saving the day rather than a cohesive system. This has been the recurring theme throughout the most recent fixtures.
The Tactical Mess and the Mbappe-Vinicius Overlap
Everyone expected Kylian Mbappé to arrive and instantly make this team unbeatable. It hasn't been that simple. In Real Madrid last games, the biggest talking point has been the "left-wing problem." Both Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior naturally want to occupy the exact same square inch of grass on the left flank.
Watching them navigate this is fascinating. Sometimes they pull it off through sheer talent, but other times they literally get in each other's way. Against top-tier defensive blocks, this lack of width on the right has made Madrid predictable. Opponents are just packing the center and the left, daring someone else to beat them. Rodrygo often ends up being the sacrifice, playing a thankless role on the right just to keep some semblance of balance.
Then there’s the Jude Bellingham factor. Last season, he was the late-arriving goal machine. This year? He’s being asked to do a bit of everything. He’s tackling in his own box, carrying the ball 40 yards, and then trying to get into the area. He looks exhausted. You can see it in his face by the 70th minute. He's covering for the fact that the midfield lacks that specific "Kroos-shaped" control. Federico Valverde is running marathons every game, but even he can't be in two places at once.
Defensive Shakes and Injuries
Let’s talk about the backline because it’s been a bit of a rollercoaster. With David Alaba’s long-term recovery and Eder Militão working back to his peak, the defense hasn't felt like the fortress it was during the 2022 Champions League run. Antonio Rüdiger is basically the glue holding the entire thing together with sheer personality and aggressive headers.
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In the recent matches, Madrid has looked surprisingly vulnerable to the counter-attack. Because the forwards aren't always tracking back with 100% intensity, the midfield gets bypassed easily. We’ve seen Thibaut Courtois—who is still arguably the best in the world—having to make three or four "save of the season" contenders just to keep a clean sheet against mid-table La Liga sides. That’s not a sustainable way to live.
- The high press isn't synchronized.
- The gap between the defensive line and the midfield is sometimes cavernous.
- Individual errors are creeping in due to fatigue.
It’s not all doom and gloom, though. Madrid has this "DNA" people always talk about. Even when they play poorly for 80 minutes, they have this terrifying ability to score three goals in the final ten. We saw it again recently. You think they're dead, and then suddenly Vinicius does something magical, or Mbappé finds a yard of space, and the game is over. But relying on "magic" is a risky strategy when the Champions League knockout stages loom.
Real Madrid Last Games: Breaking Down the Recent Form
When you look at the specific run of Real Madrid last games, the inconsistency is what jumps out. There was that match where they looked completely flat for the first half, only to come out and dominate the second. It’s like they need a wake-up call to actually start playing. Ancelotti has mentioned in press conferences that the "equilibrium" isn't there yet. That’s coach-speak for "we’re a bit of a mess defensively."
Arda Güler and Endrick are the wildcards here. Fans are screaming for more minutes for the youngsters, especially Güler. Every time the kid touches the ball, something happens. He has that vision that the current midfield is lacking. But Ancelotti is a pragmatist. He trusts his veterans. This creates a tension within the fanbase. Do you stick with the proven winners who look tired, or do you gamble on the "wonderkids" who might lose the ball in dangerous areas?
Actually, the stats show an interesting trend. Madrid is taking more shots than last season, but the "quality" of those shots (Expected Goals or xG) is slightly down. They’re taking a lot of speculative efforts from distance because they’re struggling to break down low blocks. It’s a frustration tactic. If you can’t pass through them, you start shooting from 25 yards out.
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The Impact of the International Break
The breaks haven't helped. Every time the team starts to find a rhythm, half the squad flies across the world. For players like Valverde and Vinicius, who have grueling South American qualifiers, the travel fatigue is real. It’s no coincidence that the games immediately following an international window have been some of Madrid's slowest starts.
The mental load is also huge. Being at Real Madrid means a draw feels like a catastrophe. The pressure is constant. In the most recent outings, you can see players snatching at chances—Mbappé especially. He’s desperate to prove he’s the main man, and sometimes that leads to him taking a shot when a pass to a teammate was the better option. It’s growing pains. Extremely expensive, high-stakes growing pains.
What Needs to Change Moving Forward
To get back to that "invincible" feeling, a few things have to click. First, the midfield needs to settle. Whether that’s Aurélien Tchouaméni taking more responsibility in the build-up or Camavinga becoming a permanent fixture, someone has to be the conductor. Right now, it’s a bit of a solo act from everyone.
Second, the "Left Wing Committee" needs a meeting. Mbappé and Vini have to figure out their spacing. When one goes wide, the other has to occupy the box. Too often, they’re both standing on the touchline, leaving nobody in the "danger zone."
Lastly, the defense needs a consistent partner for Rüdiger. Rotation is fine, but center-back pairings thrive on telepathy. They need games together to understand when to step up and when to drop back.
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Actionable Takeaways for Following the Season
If you're tracking this team, don't just look at the score. Look at the "Control."
Monitor the first 20 minutes. If Madrid isn't controlling the ball in the opponent's half early on, they are likely in for a long, stressful night where they rely on a late comeback.
Watch the "Pass Map." See if the balls are going into the center or if everything is being forced wide. If they are forced wide, the opponent has successfully neutralized the Mbappé threat.
Keep an eye on substitute timing. If Ancelotti makes moves before the 60th minute, it’s a sign he’s unhappy with the tactical structure, not just looking for fresh legs.
Follow the injury reports for the defense. Any further hit to the backline will force Valverde into a deeper role, which kills Madrid's attacking transition.
The season is long. Real Madrid usually doesn't hit their final form until February or March. While the recent games have been frustrating for the purists, they are still in the hunt for every trophy. It's a work in progress, but when the work in progress involves the most talented roster in the world, you’d be a fool to bet against them finding the solution.