Real Madrid suffer back-to-back defeats 366 days later

Two defeats in a row in the summer against the eternal rivals and an Italian team in the United States. It happened to Real Madrid in 2023 and it has happened to them this 2024, but they have not suffered it once in between. After 366 days without back-to-back losses, Milan and Barcelona ended the streak during the tour.

Obviously, the value is relative as these are friendlies, where there are no points at stake and only the image, the sensations and some tests are valued. Carlo Ancelotti's team had a better start to the preseason last year, with wins against Milan and Manchester United, respectively, before losing to Barca (3-0) on August 1st and Juventus (3-1) on August 3rd.

On this occasion, the first setback came on July 29th, when the 'Rossoneri' won 1-0 with a goal by Samu Chukwueze. On the 4th, a year and a day after the 3-1 defeat by the 'Vecchia Signora' last summer, the 'Cules' won with a brace by Pau Victor.

It was very difficult for Madrid to have two defeats in a row because, once the season started, they only lost two games out of the 55 matches they played in the whole season. The first came on September 24th, when Atletico Madrid won 3-1 on La Liga matchday 6 after seven consecutive victories for the 'Merengues'. Once again, it was Atletico who defeated 'Los Blancos' on January 18th, with a 4-2 victory in the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey.

In the rest of the year, the most similar were the two consecutive draws that, on two occasions, Ancelotti's side scored. These came in March, with a 2-2 draw against Valencia and a 1-1 draw in the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 against RB Leipzig that qualified the Santiago Bernabeu outfit, and in May, with La Liga title already secured. Madrid drew (4-4) at La Ceramica against Villarreal and at home against Betis (0-0) just before the Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund.

 

August 4, 2024