Real Madrid’s Champions League Struggles: Pressure Mounts on Ancelotti and Mbappe

Real Madrid, the 15-time European champions, are facing a serious challenge in the 2024-25 Champions League. With three losses in their last five games, including a 2-0 defeat to Liverpool, the Spanish giants find themselves in a precarious position, sitting 24th in the group stage.

The revamped competition format allows the top eight teams to automatically qualify for the last-16, while teams ranked 9th-24th move into a two-legged play-off. Real Madrid are now in danger of failing to make it to the knockout phase, a situation that would be unthinkable for a club of their stature.

Star players Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham had little impact in the Liverpool loss. Mbappe missed a crucial penalty, a moment that summed up his frustrating evening. Former Real Madrid midfielder Steve McManaman criticized the French forward’s performance, suggesting the pressure on him is taking a toll. Mbappe, who moved from Paris Saint-Germain in a high-profile transfer, has yet to find his best form at Real Madrid, adding to the growing concerns surrounding the team.

Bellingham, who has been pivotal for Madrid this season, has struggled to make his mark in the Champions League. With no goals to his name in the competition, questions are being raised about his ability to live up to the enormous expectations placed on him. The England midfielder expressed feeling scapegoated at the Euros earlier this year, and his dip in form has only added to the pressure on the squad.

The injury crisis is another major concern for Carlo Ancelotti. Key players like Eduardo Camavinga, Dani Carvajal, Rodrygo, Vinicius Jr., Aurelien Tchouameni, David Alaba, and Eder Militao are all sidelined, leaving the squad depleted and struggling to find a rhythm. Despite their injuries, Real’s lack of cohesion on the pitch has been alarming, with pundits calling their recent form “worrying.”

Ancelotti, despite his success with the club, is under increasing scrutiny. His comments after the Liverpool defeat, where he defended his decisions and hinted at growing doubts within the club about his ability to turn things around, suggested that the pressure is mounting both internally and externally. However, Ancelotti remains confident in his ability to lead Real Madrid through this rough patch, stating that the team will qualify for the next round and continue to compete.

For now, Real Madrid are clinging to their reputation as European giants, but with the team in crisis, it remains to be seen whether they can turn their fortunes around and avoid a disastrous early exit from the Champions League.