Real Madrid may still be competing on all fronts this season, but a worrying trend has started to creep into their performances, especially when it comes to their defensive consistency.
Their recent 1-2 defeat to Valencia did not just cost them three points—it further exposed the vulnerabilities in a team that is struggling to keep clean sheets, and more importantly, to maintain control at the back.
The numbers paint a troubling picture. Since their Copa del Rey semi-final first-leg clash against Real Sociedad on 26 February, Los Blancos have conceded in every game.
That is now eight consecutive matches in which Real Madrid have failed to keep a clean sheet, allowing 14 goals in total. For a team chasing domestic and European glory, that’s a glaring problem.
Before that Sociedad clash, their last clean sheet in La Liga came in a solid 2-0 win over Girona, but that now feels like a distant memory.
Since then, the defensive unit has looked increasingly shaky, conceding at a rate of 1.75 goals per game over the last eight matches.
Even more concerning is the variance in results: three losses, one draw, and four wins—most by the narrowest of margins.
Part of the problem lies in the constant shuffling of goalkeepers due to fitness problems. Thibaut Courtois has played four of those eight games and let in five goals—an average of 1.25 per game.
Lunin, handed responsibility in three, conceded a worrying seven (2.33 goals per game), while youngster Fran Gonzalez conceded two in his debut against Valencia.
And that brings us to another key issue: a lack of continuity in central defence. Carlo Ancelotti has rotated between Antonio Rudiger, David Alaba, and Raul Asencio, but has also continued to field Aurelien Tchouameni at centre-back.
Real Madrid’s vulnerability at the back has opened the door for their Catalan rivals to pounce in the title race.
If Real Madrid want to stay competitive in La Liga and the Champions League, Ancelotti needs to address this defensive crisis immediately.
This is because right now, their backline looks more like a revolving door than a wall—and it is costing them dearly.