Before the Madrid Derby, Real Madrid were on an 8-game winning streak with wins in both La Liga and the Champions League. They won 6 League games, including a dominating 1-0 win against Espanyol, where they held possession 77%  of the time and had 21 shots on target. In addition to their wins in La Liga, they won 2 UEFA Champions League matches against Marseille and Kairat. With players like Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr. in top performance, Real Madrid looked unstoppable. 

       However, their momentum came to a halt during the Madrid derby against their rivals, Atletico Madrid. Real Madrid came short in a crushing defeat against Atletico, losing the match 5-2. Atletico manager Diego Simeone’s high press tactics and strong counterattacks exposed flaws in Real Madrid’s defensive tactics. 

       The loss was a setback for Real Madrid, who were previously undefeated in La Liga. Manager Carlo Ancelotti stated, “We have to look at the reality. We didn’t defend well,” in a post-match news conference. Although controlling possession for the majority of the game, Ancelotti added, “They scored the goals easily, and we didn’t work hard, collectively or individually.” 

       With the defeat, Real Madrid dropped to second place in La Liga behind FC Barcelona, another rival. Even with the loss, players like Kylian Mbappe still look to be in top performance, as he scored one of their 2 goals against Atletico Madrid. For Ancelotti, the challenge will be regaining confidence and ensuring the loss does not shake team morale. 

       For the fans, concern grows as Real Madrid’s “Big game Conundrum” continues. The loss shows how much has been done since the loss against Paris Saint-Germain in the FIFA Club World Cup finals, and how there is still much to work on. Rivalries like the Madrid derby show how competitive Spanish football is, and the psychological strength it takes to win the La Liga title.