(Football news) Thanks to Antonio Rüdiger’s header and a 1-0 win over RCD Mallorca on Wednesday, Real Madrid have been crowned winter champions, the team that tops the standings at the halfway point of the league season. This is the 37th time that the capital city club have been winter champions; on 25 of the previous occasions, they ended up winning that year’s championship (69%). The last time they did so was when they led midway through and at the end of the 2021/22 season.
Throughout the history of the competition, which began in 1929 and is now in its 93rd season, 51 of the previous 92 winter champions (55%) finished in first place at the end of those seasons. This trend has become even more pronounced in the three-points-per-win era, as 22 of the 28 winter champions (79%) since 1995/96 have ended up lifting the trophy at the end of the year.
The warning of 2014/15 and the success of 2021/22
Only once in the past 20 seasons have Real Madrid been the winter champions and then failed to take that year’s LALIGA EA SPORTS title. That was in 2014/15, the last year of current coach Carlo Ancelotti’s previous spell at the Bernabéu.
Then, Real Madrid had 48 points at the midway checkpoint, compared to the 44 of FC Barcelona, but injuries and fatigue in the second half of the campaign saw Barça end up claiming the championship with 94 points compared to their rivals’ 92.
Having experienced that disappointment before, Ancelotti then proved he had learned the lesson. When his 2021/22 Real Madrid squad were winter champions, they then clinched the title with several matchdays to spare. The Italian explained at a press conference: “A mental slump can be costly, so we have to keep going. When I was here before, we won 22 games in a row [in 2014/15], but the second half of the season didn’t go well. I don’t forget that.”
Real Madrid are favourites, but Girona FC are right there
There are several factors behind Real Madrid’s excellent first half of the 2023/24 season, not least their solid defence. Los Blancos have conceded just 11 goals in 19 games, which is the third-best defensive record in the top five European leagues. This is especially impressive considering the numerous injuries the team suffered in defence. It has been a true team effort. Jude Bellingham, signed in the summer, has also played a key role. The Englishman has already scored 13 goals, making him the current leader of the Pichichi ranking.
Real Madrid are undoubtedly the favourites, but they are level on 48 points with Girona FC, the surprise team of the season. No side in the last decade has been winter runner-up with as many points as Girona FC. Interestingly, the only defeat the Catalan club suffered this season was against Ancelotti’s men.
Girona FC look unstoppable, especially after beating Atletico Madrid 4-3 on Matchday 19. They will put pressure on Real Madrid, and will face Los Blancos on Matchday 24, while both FC Barcelona and Atlético de Madrid are also still in the title race.
It has been a successful start to the year for Real Madrid, winter champions once again, and now, in the second half of the 2023/24 season, Ancelotti and his players will try to turn the honour of being winter champions into a trophy.
