This match was a microcosm of Real Madrid’s disappointing La Liga campaign. Even if the team fielded a reserve lineup, presumably to conserve energy for the Champions League, the lack of fighting spirit on display against Sevilla was deeply concerning.
While it’s understandable that these players might not feature in key matches, when given a chance to prove themselves, their performance was utterly underwhelming. In previous seasons, Madrid’s bench strength was a point of pride. Just last year, during their Champions League run, the B team held the line in La Liga, absorbing pressure from Barcelona and allowing stars like Cristiano Ronaldo to rest without jeopardizing domestic results. But this season, the magic of their Plan B has vanished. The backups no longer offer the same reliability, and now even giving the starters a breather feels risky.
Regardless of how the Champions League final turns out, Madrid will not be content to shine on just one front next season. Competing across multiple tournaments demands a stronger, more focused second unit—and that starts with attitude. At the start of the season, Real Madrid’s league form was already shaky due to Ronaldo’s suspension and a post-return scoring drought. Barcelona capitalized on Madrid’s early stumbles and quickly built a commanding lead. Real, seeing their La Liga hopes slip away, began rotating heavily to focus on the Champions League. As the points gap widened, their domestic ambition faded altogether.
In sharp contrast to their league struggles, Real Madrid has been rock-solid in Europe. Though they only finished second in their group, they delivered clutch performances in the knockout rounds—eliminating PSG, Juventus, and Bayern Munich, all leaders of their respective leagues—to march into the Champions League final with heads held high.
On paper, a 2–3 loss to Sevilla might seem acceptable. But for anyone who watched the match, it was jarring. Despite fielding numerous backups, this version of Madrid felt unrecognizable. The fact that they trailed 0–3 at one point against Sevilla was unthinkable, especially given the reputation of the once-envied Madrid B team. That squad, which once inspired admiration across Europe, now seems to lack even the basic desire to win.
Coming off a grueling El Clásico, Zinedine Zidane made significant rotations, granting several bench players starting opportunities. But they failed to rise to the occasion. Though Madrid controlled possession, they barely troubled Sevilla’s defense—especially in the first half.
Tellingly, Madrid managed just two touches inside the opponent’s penalty area in the entire first half, underlining their impotence up front. While they survived scares against Juventus and Bayern, managing to avoid collapse, unlike Barcelona, this performance in La Liga raises serious alarm bells.
If Madrid wants to contend on multiple fronts next season, they’ll need more than just tactical tweaks—they’ll need heart, hunger, and a squad that plays every match like it matters. As the old saying goes, “You can’t win the war with half the army asleep.”