Real Madrid Faces Champions League Difficulties Amidst Key Player Underperformance

Real Madrid is currently in a challenging position in the Champions League, having suffered three defeats in five matches, making qualification for the next stage difficult. This situation is unexpected for the 15-time European champions, Real Madrid. Following a 2-0 loss to Liverpool on Wednesday, the Spanish club is ranked 24th in the standings, facing significant difficulties in a competition where they are historically dominant. Under the competition’s updated format, the top eight teams advance directly to the last-16, while teams ranked ninth through 24th proceed to a two-legged play-off. The current defending champions, positioned 24th, are confronting the real possibility of failing to progress to the next stage. Key players Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham had minimal impact during the match, with Mbappe’s missed penalty encapsulating a difficult evening for the reigning champions. England midfielder Bellingham commented that Liverpool showed they were “more up for it” than his team, while commentators described Real’s recent displays as “alarming.” Having recorded three losses in their five Champions League fixtures—a number equal to their defeats in the preceding 24 games—questions arise regarding Real Madrid’s struggles. The possibility of their elimination from a competition they are so closely associated with is now being considered. Caoimhin Kelleher saved Mbappe’s penalty. Kylian Mbappe’s transfer to Real Madrid has generated significant media attention since its inception. This includes months of speculation, Paris St-Germain’s decision to release him without a transfer fee, his substantial salary, and the immense anticipation surrounding his arrival. Now, the French forward is reportedly struggling to integrate into this squad of star players. Former Real midfielder Steve McManaman stated on TNT Sports, “We haven’t seen the best of Mbappe tonight.” He added, “They needed Mbappe tonight and he flattered to deceive. The Madrid press will be ruthless because he didn’t deliver again when he needed to.” McManaman further noted that “Madrid are going through a rough patch and the big players are not performing. All the baggage around Mbappe magnifies it. This year they are really, really struggling.” Mbappe has yet to fully adapt, leading to ongoing questions about his role and how to effectively utilize both him and Vinicius Jr, who occupies a comparable position, within the same lineup. Even with Vinicius Jr sidelined due to injury, Mbappe did not make a significant impact. Nevertheless, his teammates express confidence in his potential contributions. Bellingham commented, “Kylian is a wonderful player but the pressure is humongous.” He continued, “The penalty is not why we lost the game. Kylian can keep his head high and I know for sure he will produce many more big moments for this club.” While it is simple to attribute Real’s defeat to Mbappe’s missed penalty and limited influence, he was not the sole player experiencing difficulties. Bellingham has not yet scored in the current Champions League season, and prior to this match, the 21-year-old expressed feeling like a “scapegoat” during this summer’s Euros, where England placed second to Spain. Former Blackburn striker Chris Sutton stated on BBC Radio 5 Live, “Going into the Euros everyone was really excited about Bellingham’s form and he dipped a little bit, as did a lot of England players.” He added, “When you are as high profile a player as he is then you come to be judged by your performances and maybe he didn’t hit the level that people have come to expect.” Ancelotti’s expanding injury roster presents an additional concern. Midfielder Eduardo Camavinga left the field at Anfield with a suspected hamstring issue, adding his name to Real’s list of injured players, which already includes full-back Dani Carvajal, forwards Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr, midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni, and defenders David Alaba and Eder Militao. Coach Ancelotti is also under pressure in Spain. Despite leading the team to La Liga and Champions League titles last season, the Italian has drawn criticism from the media. However, Spanish football expert Guillem Balague suggests that a comment Ancelotti made during Tuesday’s press conference—”no-one can give me advice about substitutions – I have managed 1,300 games, compiled 1,300 line-ups and made more than 4,000 substitutions”—was directed not at the press, but at Real’s club management. Balague explained, “It is because he feels people in the club are doubting his ability to turn this around.” He added, “He feels that the doubts will grow with every game because he is unable to put a team out at the moment that is fluent in football, these things require time.” Balague concluded, “But he knows not a lot of time is allowed at Real Madrid and the doubt if he is the man for the job in the near future comes from within.” Real Madrid has historically never been eliminated during the Champions League group stage, though this year’s revised format offers them some flexibility to recover. While Liverpool’s current season performance suggests a promising trajectory, this victory marked their first against Real in eight Champions League encounters, which included two finals. Real, typically a dominant force in this tournament, has seen its current form described as “alarming” by former Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand. He commented, “When you have superstars, you can change your season at any point.” Ferdinand continued, “The football is a big concern. You have to prove to your teammates you are the guy – Mbappe will be wanting to prove to his team-mates ‘I am a galactico, I am the guy.’ ” He concluded, “That moment will come again soon. It has to, they could be heading out.” Despite the challenges, Real has extensive experience in this competition, and Ancelotti’s statement after the loss was unequivocal: “We will qualify to the next round and we will compete as every year. You will see. We are going to go through.”