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The most successful club in Spain, Real Madrid, are burdened with glorious purpose. They cannot afford to have a trophyless rebuilding phase and cannot afford to play a drab brand of football. They must always find a way to be relevant, to lure major trophies to the right side of the Spanish capital.
With an aging squad and the double departure of Raphael Varane and Sergio Ramos to deal with, Real Madrid are quite literally in their most fragile state yet. It would be fascinating to see how the Whites cope with the insurmountable pressure and unanticipated challenges of the La Liga campaign.
Now, without further ado, let us take a look at the top five predictions for Real Madrid's upcoming La Liga campaign.
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#5 Real Madrid to play an attractive brand of football
Under Zinedine Zidane, Real Madrid managed to win an absurd number of trophies - 11 across two spells, to be precise. However, they were not always the most dominant team out there. Real Madrid rarely looked like the menacing side of old; it was their determination and grit that led to unmatched heroics.
After the premature end of Zidane's spell, Real Madrid have turned to someone familiar — someone who kept the fans on the edge of their seats with his brand of football the last time around. Carlo Ancelotti, who delivered Real Madrid's elusive 10th Champions League title 'La Decima' in 2014, is back at the Santiago Bernabeu. The Italian is determined to make the Whites a free-scoring team once again.
The 62-year-old might even deploy a number 10 to add a dash of flair to Real Madrid's often unimaginative front line, and it would be interesting to see how that shapes out.
#4 David Alaba to settle in as a centre-back
Real Madrid have somehow managed to lose their preferred centre-back pairing ahead of the 2021-22 La Liga campaign. They have brought Jesus Vallejo back from loan, of course, but we are unlikely to see the Spaniard at the heart of the Real Madrid defense. Instead, we could see new-signing David Alaba start as a centre-back, possibly alongside Eder Militao.
The ex-Bayern Munich left-back is primarily known for his prowess down the left flank, but he has shown promise as a centre-back as well. His pace and anticipation should give him an advantage while defending counter-attacks, which could be life-saving in must-win encounters.
Like his predecessor Sergio Ramos, Alaba, too, is an excellent set-piece taker, and we expect to see the Austrian stand over the dead ball more often than not. Real Madrid did not necessarily need a left back this season, but they certainly will not mind the experience of the two-time Champions League winner in their often vulnerable back line.
#3 Karim Benzema to lead the charge
Since Cristiano Ronaldo's departure in 2018, Real Madrid have had the privilege of counting on their number 9, Karim Benzema, in almost every single outing. From being a wasteful centre-forward to a clinical knight in shining armor, Karim Benzema has really upped the ante over the last three seasons. We expect the Frenchman to continue his fine form throughout the 2021-22 La Liga campaign.
The 33-year-old former Lyon man has racked up 65 goals and 24 assists in his last three La Liga seasons for Real Madrid, playing a central role in almost every mesmerizing passage of play. The forward was also impressive in the recently concluded Euro 2020, scoring four goals in as many matches.
With Luka Jovic still struggling to settle in at the club, Karim Benzema is expected to feature in almost all the important games for Real Madrid in the 2021-22 La Liga campaign. We believe he will manage to match or better his previous season's haul of 23 goals, scoring a significant number of clutch goals along the way.
#2 Ex-Premier League wingers could continue to struggle
Gareth Bale and Eden Hazard are two of the most respected names in English football. While the former tore through the defenses with his blistering pace, the latter broke ankles with his deft touch and unpredictable twist of the hips. Unfortunately, neither has managed to do Real Madrid any favors lately.
After warming the bench under Zinedine Zidane, Bale returned home to Tottenham Hotspur on loan last season. He did manage to score a few goals for the Lilywhites, but they were few and far between. Now, after getting him back from London, Real Madrid are counting on Bale to find his magical boots under Carlo Ancelotti. However, we believe it would be unrealistic of Madridistas to expect the Welshman to fire on all cylinders right from the gate.
Real Madrid's left-winger, Eden Hazard, on the other hand, is yet to do anything to justify his enormous price tag (reportedly €100 million). He has struggled with injury woes, fitness issues and lack of sharpness since the 2019-20 campaign, and faces a monumental task of bouncing back in 2021/22. On his day, he can take on any defense in the world. Sadly, Real Madrid fans have not had the privilege of seeing the Belgian in full flow yet.
#1 Casemiro could become the leader Real Madrid deserve
The departure of Sergio Ramos has left a gaping hole at Real Madrid. Not only have the Merengues lost their most influential defender, but they have also lost their lionheart 'Capitan'.
The club are in desperate need of a leader and must put their faith in a capable midfield general to get the direction they seek. Casemiro, on paper, may not be as decorated as Luka Modric or Toni Kroos. But the defensive midfielder is one of the most pivotal pieces of Real Madrid's recent history.
Marcelo, the club's current captain, is past his prime and is not guaranteed to be on the team-sheet. Benzema, who will get the armband in the absence of Marcelo, is not as vocal as one would like a Real Madrid captain to be.
Casemiro, who has emerged as a natural leader for the Brazil national team, possesses the ability to infuse the team with confidence when needed. We we won't be surprised to see the 29-year-old become the unofficial captain of the 34-time La Liga winners over the course of the season.
