Real Madrid’s decision to sell midfielders Xabi Alonso and Angel Di Maria left many scratching their heads and consecutive La Liga defeats as well as a reverse to Atletico Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup set alarm bells ringing at the Bernabeu.
Toni Kroos, who joined from Bayern Munich while Alonso went the other way, was seen as a poor substitute for the experienced Spain midfielder, while James Rodriguez, top scorer at the World Cup finals in Brazil with six goals, seemed to lack Di Maria’s intensity and eye for a killer pass.
A couple of months later and the picture is an altogether different one.
Real have come into the kind of form that propelled them to a record-extending 10th European title last season in coach Carlo Ancelotti’s first term in charge.
Recent performances, including Saturday’s 3-1 win at home to Barcelona in the La Liga ‘Clasico’, suggest Ancelotti has successfully completed the integration of Kroos and Rodriguez into a side that is fearsome in attack and mean in defence.
Since they were beaten at home by Atletico in La Liga on Sept. 13, Real have scored 38 goals in nine outings in all competitions and conceded a mere six.
Portuguese World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo is in the form of his life and has netted a jaw-dropping 16 goals in eight La Liga appearances, including the equaliser from the penalty spot on Saturday.
The victory lifted Real to within a point of leaders Barca after nine matches and they are virtually assured of passage to the Champions League knockout round after winning their opening three group games.
“We’re in very good form, I don’t know if I’ve found the perfect formula,” Ancelotti told a post-’Clasico’ news conference.
“We’re also in good mental shape,” added the Italian.
“We still have the same idea as last year. We’re trying to improve our play and everything is coming off well.”
Barca, by contrast, are licking their wounds after their defensive frailty was again exposed on Saturday and they squandered a number of chances after Neymar had put them ahead in the fourth minute.