On Sunday, May 10, El Clásico takes place at Camp Nou, where Barcelona can clinch the La Liga title. Real Madrid must win away to keep their slim mathematical hopes alive in the title race. However, the turmoil within Álvaro Arbeloa’s squad makes a miracle unlikely for fans.
Players are not speaking to the coach and are fighting each other. After another altercation with a teammate, a Real Madrid player was sent to the hospital. What exactly is going on at the club?
Without Trophies
According to Transfermarkt, Real Madrid leads the world in total market value of its players. Yet this season, the club has failed to convert its superclub status and expensive squad into silverware. Madrid were eliminated in the Copa del Rey round of 16 by Albacete, lost twice to Bayern Munich in the Champions League to miss the semifinals, failed to win the Spanish Super Cup, and their league title hopes remain purely mathematical.
On Sunday, Real Madrid faces Barcelona away. A draw or loss would make the Catalans champions automatically. Even a win for Los Blancos would likely only delay the inevitable. With four matchdays remaining, Barcelona leads its archrival by 11 points.
Bad spells happen even to giants, but Real Madrid’s collapse appears rooted in specific internal issues. News coming from the club suggests a rotten atmosphere in the locker room. How can a team function when players are fighting each other and openly boycotting the head coach?
Clash of Leaders
Real Madrid’s attacking leaders Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior have long been at odds. The situation has become so problematic that the Frenchman is ready to leave this summer. After yet another heated argument between teammates, one player ended up requiring medical treatment and was hospitalized, highlighting the deep fractures within the squad.
