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That is because having been dumped out from the Champions League by Lyon in a heartbreaking manner, Real Madrid and their supporters might approach the rest of La Liga season with mixed emotions.
This new phase in the current history of the Spanish giants starts with a match away to Valladolid.
Real Madrid – La Liga title for the club’s consolation
When Florentino Perez brought the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Xabi Alonso, and Kaka among other big names to transform the Galacticos into an all new all-star team, many Real Madrid fans thought it was a realistic thing to believe in Los Blancos’ potential to clinch the treble.
But after the shocking Copa del Rey exit that Real Madrid suffered in humiliating fashion in the hands of third tier side Alcorcon, and after Wednesday’s painful Champions League last sixteen exit, pessimistic doubts over the club’s fate are now resounding everywhere.
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Reports even indicate that Los Blancos’ dressing room is suffering from division lately.
While jeers coming from fervent Barcelona fans and other football fans contribute in inflicting more humiliation on Real Madrid, financial deals leading to huge loss of money have hit Florentino Perez’s plans.
The Spanish press, meanwhile, has also added more fire to Los Blancos’ embarrassing situation by calling upon Coach Manuel Pellegrini to resign.
Well, pressure from talks and criticism might never end – not until the season ends at least.
As Pellegrini explained, the only thing that the club has to do now is to secure La Liga title so as to end the season on a consolation note.
“We would have loved to win everything this year, but now we find ourselves out of two competitions, despite being leaders in La Liga," the manager told the media after Real Madrid's aggregate defeat to Lyon.
“We need to turn the page and win La Liga like Capello and Schuster did.”
Going into Sunday’s game against Valladolid, Real Madrid could be placed second if Barcelona avoid defeat in Valencia earlier on.
Perhaps, Real Valladolid won’t provide a strong challenge either way against the Spanish giants. However, the truth is that Real Madrid have now become THEIR OWN challenge as they try to restore their pride through unity.
They’ll need to hit perfect notes on Sunday by putting up a great show and a great result; not only to put pressure on rivals Barcelona in the hunt for La Liga title but most importantly to win back the confidence and the passion of their angry and dejected supporters.
Valladolid – upsetting the Spanish giants might be more than special
If Real Valladolid succeed in upsetting Real Madrid on Sunday, the fate of each club will certainly experience major changes; bottom side Valladolid for the better, Florentino Perez’s Real Madrid for the worse.
Valladolid are actually yet to make the most of their opportunities and come out of the drop zone. They lost 2-0 away to Bilbao last week and they’ve picked up only 2 points from a possible 15.
Valladolid were not far away from causing trouble to Madrid in the first leg of this fixture. They managed to minimize the 3-0 deficit created by Raul and Marcelo.
At 3-2, Los Blancos were in real danger but Higuain’s goal eleven minutes from time ended Real Valladolid’s hopes of clinching at least a draw.
They lost 4-2 in the end but the fact that they could worry Real Madrid’s defense (which clicked terribly against Lyon in midweek) somehow proves how dangerous Valladolid can be.
Following their Champions League exit, the Spanish giants are deeply demoralized and this attitude could give more way for Sunday’s hosts to pull out a shock.
Securing a draw, if not a victory, against Real Madrid will certainly lift Valladolid’s spirits and come as a great influence in their battle for survival.
La Liga Top 5 standings ahead of match-day 26:
Real Madrid – 62 points, +27
Barcelona – 62 points, +45
Valencia – 47 points, +16
Mallorca – 43 points, +13
Sevilla – 43 points, +10
