5 things we've learned about Real Madrid so far this season

The 2016-17 season was a historic one for Real Madrid as they won La Liga for a record-extending 33rd time and then went on to become the first ever club to defend the Champions League title as well.

However, less than a year later, the defending Spanish and European champions look a pale shadow of themselves and what’s even more baffling is how the very factors that led them to glory last year are the ones that are failing them this time around.

While Zinedine Zidane seems to have lost his Midas touch as a manager, the once fearsome trio of Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, and Cristiano Ronaldo is now officially a thing of the past. With half the season still to play, Los Blancos have already surrendered the title to Barcelona after putting up one of the weakest title defences in football history.

Here are five things we’ve learned about Real Madrid based on their abysmal domestic form this season so far:

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#5 Keylor Navas deserves to be Real Madrid’s first-choice goalkeeper

Keylor Navas is one of the few Real Madrid players who can be proud of his efforts this season

Real Madrid’s interest in signing David de Gea from Manchester United is a longstanding and well-documented one. And truth be told, the Spaniard would have been a Galactico a few years back itself, had it not been for a faulty fax machine.

However, in amongst this elongated transfer saga, the million dollar question that is often not at all asked is whether or not Madrid really need an upgrade on their current goalkeeper, Keylor Navas? And the simple answer to that question is ‘no’.

The Costa Rican shot-stopper has given a good account of himself on most occasions whenever he has played this season. Moreover, while some of the big names in the Madrid squad like Sergio Ramos and Karim Benzema can be held responsible for Madrid’s woeful run in the league, next to no blame can be attached to Navas this season.

On the contrary, this season will be remembered as the one in which Navas proved himself as the ultimate unsung hero in the Madrid squad. Though the now 31-year-old certainly isn’t one of the biggest names in the Madrid side, his contributions were integral in leading Madrid to domestic and Champions League glory last season and he has been one of the few players who has replicated those standards this season as well.

But unfortunately for Navas, he has been let down by the rest of his team on more than one occasion this term and you just can’t help but feel for the man.

And this was never more the case than when Navas saved a penalty from Iago Aspas against Celta Vigo which kept Madrid in the lead, only to be denied all three points through a late equalizer from Maximiliano Gomez.

Following the kind of dismal season that Madrid have endured so far, one can be certain that more than a few changes need to be rung in at the Santiago Bernabeu in the summer transfer window. But having said that, if there’s anyone who doesn’t deserve the axe, it has to Navas.

#4 Marco Asensio is one for the future

Marco Asensio is the future for both club and country

Last season, a star was born at the Santiago Bernabeu in the form of Marco Asensio as the youngster burst onto the scene and quickly established himself as one of the hottest talents in world football. And why not?

Even at only 21 years of age, the Spaniard already has all the necessary qualities to go on to become one of the greatest players the world will witness as he possesses technique, pace, skill and most importantly, finishing prowess in abundance which makes him a complete player, despite his tender age.

In fact, Asensio’s finishing is so good that he has already established himself as not just a goal scorer, but rather, a scorer of great goals. More importantly, his goal in the UEFA Champions League final against Juventus last season proved that he has what it takes to perform when the stakes are at their highest.

After showing a few glimpses of what he’s capable of last season, the Spaniard has managed to raise the bar for himself this season.

Truth be told, in a season wherein the likes of Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo (BBC) have all settled for mediocrity for one reason or the other, Asensio has been the only Madrid player who has dared to try and achieve something above the ordinary.

And from an individual standpoint, it must be said that Asensio is having the best season of his brief career up until now as he has managed 4 goals and three assists from 16 La Liga appearances so far this season.

But unfortunately for him, his efforts have been overshadowed by Madrid’s woeful title defence. Moreover, given the fact that the once renowned trio of Bale Benzema and Ronaldo are officially a thing of the past, if there’s anyone who can help Madrid salvage some of their wounded pride this season, it ought to be Asensio.

On the other hand, the fact that Madrid acquired a player like Asensio is extremely unlike them in the first place as he doesn’t fit the traditional ‘Galactico’ (superstar) bill the club usually follows.

But having said that, Asensio may just be the one to lead the next generation of superstars at the club as he has proved his mettle more than ever this season. Finally, if Asensio does go on to fulfil his undeniable potential at the Bernabeu, it would be a watershed moment for Madrid on more than one level.

#3 BBC’s dominance is officially a thing of the past

Bale, Benzema, and Ronaldo will go down as one of the greatest partnerships in football.

There used to be a time not so long ago, when the sight of Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo aka ‘BBC’ in Real Madrid’s attack sent shivers down the spine of most defences around the world and this fear was a well justified one.

After all, the trio formed one of the most potent attacking units the world has seen and their collective efforts had led Madrid to multiple victories in the past.

This season, though, the story has been a completely different story for Madrid and their famed trio. But to be honest, the writing has been on the wall for some time now.

One of the main reasons why BBC were so successful as a partnership was the blistering pace that both Bale and Ronaldo possessed along with Benzema’s sharpshooting abilities. But over the years, each one of their respective individual powers has waned.

While on one hand, Ronaldo has lost a lot of the pace that made him one of the best wingers of all time and subsequently, he has gone on to adopt a much more central position on the pitch in recent times.

And though this has undoubtedly aided his goalscoring record, he just hasn’t been able to live up to his ridiculously high standards this season.

Having said that, let's make it very clear that Ronaldo solely isn’t to be blamed for Madrid’s performances this season. The man has been single-handedly carrying Los Blancos on his shoulders for almost a decade now and that is a reason good enough to cut him some slack for his below-par performances this season.

Madrid fortunes or lack of it this season are down to the shambolic performances put in by Benzema and Bale’s predominant absence owing to injury.

While Benzema hasn’t looked anything like his prolific self this season, Zidane has continued to show faith in his compatriot, but his countryman hasn’t been able to repay the faith shown by his manager. In the 12 league games he has played so far this season, Benzema has only managed only 2 goals and 2 assists as Madrid have lacked a cutting edge in attack this season.

Meanwhile, injuries have constantly played spoilsport during Bale’s time at Madrid and this season has been no different as the Welshman has missed 9 out of Madrid’s 19 league games so far this season.

But in his defence, Bale has looked dangerous for Madrid whenever he has managed to stay fit and he this was the case once again when against Celta Vigo 3 weeks back as he netted a brace.

Finally, given that form is temporary but class is permanent, one can be rest assured that each of Bale, Benzema, and Ronaldo will keep reminding us of the fact that all of them are world-class players, every now and then, but as a whole, we must now come to terms with the fact that we’ve seen the last of one of football’s greatest ever trios.

#2 Zinedine Zidane has left his mark on Real Madrid as a manager

Zinedine Zidane is one of the select few who has tasted success as a player and also as a manager.

There are great players and there are great managers. But it’s often difficult to find great players who have gone on to make great managers. And the respective failures of Alan Shearer and Diego Maradona as the managers of Newcastle United and the Argentine national team are a testament to this fact.

However, the unfavourable odds don’t imply that great players don’t make great managers and Zidane’s success as Real Madrid manager over the last two years is proof of this.

A lot of eyebrows were raised when Madrid decided to appoint the legendary Frenchman as the manager of their first team in 2016, but by the end of his first season in charge of Madrid, Zidane laid all such doubts to rest as he led Los Blancos to Champions League glory.

And he then followed that up by winning La Liga last season and the icing on Zidane’s cake was when Madrid became the first team in the UEFA Champions League era to defend their crown, under Zidane's guidance.

As far as the secrets for Zidane’s success was concerned, the fact that he learned the tricks of the trade during his time in charge of Real Madrid’s youth team certainly helped him. But more importantly, he has got each player on his side to play to their respective strengths during his tenure, and that has certainly helped his cause.

Moreover, Zidane has deployed a consistent starting 11 for the majority of his time as manager and that has definitely earned him his players’ trust.

In short, Zidane got Madrid back to their basics during his time at the club and that is exactly why he has succeeded. But in the larger scheme of things, Zidane’s biggest achievement as a manager will be proving that great players can make great managers too.

#1 Real Madrid need a squad overhaul in the summer transfer window

Real Madrid are expected to make more than a few changes in the summer transfer window.

As a club, Real Madrid have never been afraid of overhauling their squad from time to time, if they find that their players are not living up to expectations of the club and this has been the case especially during Florentino Perez’s reign as president of the club.

Going by that reputation, if there ever was a time when the Santiago Bernabeu outfit needed an overhaul it has to be now. Madrid’s La Liga title defence this season has been so woeful that they have already conceded defeat to Barcelona in the title race with pretty much half the season still to play.

In fact, Madrid’s form during their domestic campaign this season has led to Toni Kroos admitting that his team should just try and qualify for next season’s Champions League by finishing in the allocated spots and nothing more than that.

As far as the reasons for this are concerned, Madrid’s collective impotency in front of goal and their inability to kill off games have been a major cause of their downfall.

And not surprisingly, the likes of Harry Kane, Mauro Icardi, and Andrea Belotti are being rumoured to replace the likes of Benzema and Bale in the summer. Moreover, the likes of Eden Hazard, Marcus Rashford, and Anthony Martial have also emerged as potential targets for Madrid at the end of the season.

The way things have gone for Madrid this season, one can be certain that wholesale changes need be made to the squad in the summer transfer window, and once that is done, one can be just as certain that Madrid will be back with a vengeance next season.