Real Madrid have begun the season with 15 points in their opening seven fixtures thus far, leaving them joint-league leaders with Atletico Madrid.
While Zinedine Zidane's men's recent form of three draws in their last three outings, culminating in a 1-1 draw against Eibar over the weekend, may seem concerning, historically, it may in fact be a flattering read for capital club supporters.
In the last 86 editions of the top-flight, 10 times have Los Blancos started the season with exactly four victories and three draws, tasting glory on six occasions of the previous nine where the club have obtained fifteen points from seven matches.
The trend began as early as the 1931/32 campaign where they pipped Athletic Club to the title.
The Estadio Santiago Bernabeu outfit then claimed another two league titles under similar circumstances between 1964 and 1966 under the tutelage of Miguel Munoz. The same man repeated the feat again in 1969/70 but could only help his side to sixth position.
Meanwhile, Luis Molowny helped the side a title in 1978/79 under the same conditions before Dutch tactician Leo Beenhakker managed the same exactly a decade later.
Fabio Capello has since become the last manager for the club to match this record, in 1996/97 after arriving at the club off the back of a successful reign in the Serie A with AC Milan, which included four Scudettos and a European Cup in 1994.
With the club intentionally spending big to sign Suker, Mijatovic Seedorf, Roberto Carlos Illgner, as well as Zé Roberto and Christian Panucci in winter, Real were in third place after seven matches before rising to the top after 14 outings and managing to hold on to claim the La Liga crown with a record 92 points, claiming a 24-match unbeaten streak in the process.
Now, though, Madrid are arguably in a better position but, given the tight battle for the top, will have to improve drastically if they are to win their first league title since 2011/-12.
Comments
Post a Comment