Real Madrid see Barcelona’s turnaround as model for their own recovery | OneFootball

According to a recent report from AS, Real Madrid are working with a clear idea in mind to replicate the same turnaround that Barcelona managed at this exact stage of last season. 

On the surface, the mood around the club is tense, and the word “crisis” continues to follow Madrid everywhere they go, even after registering two consecutive wins. 

Those victories, however, have done little to calm supporters. 

Yet internally, the club’s analysis is far more measured, as the numbers paint a different picture. 

From a purely objective standpoint, the belief within Valdebebas is that Real Madrid remain competitive across all metrics. 

Optimism at Real Madrid

Within the club, calculations are being made with optimism rather than fear. 

There is a clear awareness that the league table can shift quickly, especially with key fixtures approaching. 

That confidence was summed up candidly by a regular presence at Valdebebas, who explained the current thinking with brutal honesty.

All eyes on Xabi Alonso now. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

“If we beat Betis, we’d still be four points behind Barça… unless Espanyol does us a favour the day before and at least manages a draw,” says one of the regulars at Valdebebas.

This mindset is heavily influenced by what happened exactly one year ago. 

At this point last season, Barcelona were eight points behind Real Madrid and seemingly out of the race. 

What followed after the break was a dramatic and almost inexplicable shift in momentum, as Barcelona surged forward, winning both La Liga and the Copa del Rey.

Alonso’s litmus test

That memory is shaping Madrid’s current approach. The Spanish Super Cup is viewed internally as a turning point. 

Winning it would not just add silverware but also restore belief and confidence within a squad that looks weighed down by pressure.

The feeling inside the club is that if Barcelona could flip the script last season, then Real Madrid can do the same. 

Momentum changes everything, and history has taught Madrid that winning often cures deeper problems.