Real Madrid’s impressive 36-match unbeaten streak came to an end as they suffered a 1-0 defeat against Lille in the Champions League on Wednesday night. The last time Carlo Ancelotti’s team faced defeat was on January 18, when they lost 4-2 after extra time to Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey round of 16.
The only goal of the match came from Canadian striker Jonathan David, who converted a first-half penalty. Despite the efforts from players like Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham, and Kylian Mbappe, who returned from injury to play in the second half, Madrid could not find an equalizer.
In the post-match press conference, Carlo Ancelotti did not shy away from acknowledging his team’s lackluster performance. “The criticism for today’s game is fair, correct, we have to accept it,” he stated. “We didn’t show a good version of ourselves.”
Although the season is still in its early stages, this marked a troubling pattern for Ancelotti’s side. Madrid began their La Liga campaign with a disappointing 1-1 draw against Mallorca, leading Ancelotti to ponder “problems and solutions” prematurely into the season. Questions regarding the effectiveness of their attacking trio—Mbappe, Vinicius Jr, and Rodrygo—persisted following a further draw at Las Palmas, leaving Madrid with only five points from their first three matches.
While some concerns eased as Mbappe started scoring—leading the team with seven goals in ten games—issues within the team’s defense and overall stability remained evident. Coaching staff highlighted a lack of composure despite a recent string of five consecutive wins in all competitions, citing arrogance as a potential problem that nearly led to losing a 3-0 lead in a match against Alaves.
Mbappe was subbed off with a muscle injury prior to the match against Lille, prompting a tactical shift from a 4-3-3 to a 4-4-2 formation to seek better balance. However, the changes yielded little improvement against Lille. Ancelotti lamented, “We struggled to generate and create… It’s obvious because we have strikers who need to play more vertically.”
Following the Lille match, it was reported that Eder Militao may face further tests after being substituted in the 57th minute due to discomfort in his left thigh. His potential absence adds to an injury list that includes Thibaut Courtois, David Alaba, Dani Ceballos, and Brahim Diaz.
Physical ailments have plagued Madrid since the season began, diverging from their optimal performance. The team is grappling with the demanding fixture schedule, as acknowledged by goalkeeper Andriy Lunin, who stated, “People who are responsible, let them think about it. It’s not easy.”
As Real Madrid prepares for their next La Liga match against Villarreal, they may rely solely on recognized center-backs Antonio Rudiger and Jesus Vallejo, the latter having struggled in his season debut. Aurelien Tchouameni could step into the defensive role if Militao is ruled out. The recent summer transfer window saw management refrain from bolstering defensive depth despite the busy schedule ahead.
Sources indicate that David Alaba might return in December, after nearly a year on the sidelines. Although Militao has fully recovered from his cruciate ligament injury, coaching staff believe he still requires time to regain peak form.
Despite the challenges, there appears to be no sense of panic at the club. A source close to the Madrid board remarked, “We are just starting. We’re going to see how things go,” implying a measured approach typical of a club with Real Madrid’s stature.