Real Madrid’s start to the 2024-25 La Liga season has not gone as expected. The team’s recent 1-1 draw against Las Palmas leaves them with only five points from their first three matches, salvaged by a penalty from Vinicius Junior in the 69th minute that canceled out Alberto Moleiro’s early goal.
With Madrid already trailing behind Barcelona, who have won all their matches, Carlo Ancelotti exhibited self-criticism during the post-match media conference, acknowledging the need for a “quick solution” and clearer strategies for his players.
The performance demonstrated significant challenges for the defending champions, who will need to regroup ahead of their home match against Real Betis this Sunday, as key players have yet to meet expectations.
Kylian Mbappe, who scored in his debut for Real Madrid during the UEFA Super Cup, has struggled to replicate that form, failing to find the net in the opening three league games. Despite leading the league in shots taken, he has a disappointing expected goals tally compared to actual goals scored. His frustration was evident during the match against Las Palmas, where he took nine shots, two of which were on target.
Vinicius Junior, another star player, also faced difficulties, managing to score from a penalty but overall underwhelming performance drew criticism from fans. He struggled against Las Palmas’ Marvin Park, leading to early substitution after the penalty, marking a trend of being replaced in every match this season.
Meanwhile, Dani Ceballos finds himself sidelined amid transfer speculation. Reports suggest he has requested to leave the club after a lack of opportunities, having only played six minutes this season. Despite recent developments, Ancelotti implied that the squad would remain unchanged as the transfer deadline approaches.
The team is in clear need of improvement as they navigate the early stages of the season with a challenging match ahead.