5 memorable moments for Real Madrid from 2014/15 season
‘A tale of two halves’, is what sums up the dethroned European champions Real Madrid’s recently concluded campaign. After a small speed bump following the UEFA Super Cup title, which saw them being consigned to defeats in the Spanish Super Cup by Atletico Madrid and falling to 13th in the table after 2 defeats in the opening 3 games of the league, Los Blancos embarked on their historic 22-match winning streak, sending an ominous statement across Europe.
However, what transpired in 2015 was simply disastrous. Los Merengues went completely off the boil in the new year and were merely a shadow of their forceful selves who sauntered their way past their adversaries.
Their poor form saw them being knocked out by their neighbours in the Cup, ceded the top spot in Liga to Barcelona and were driven out of the Champions League by Juventus. Just a year after the Decima success, Real were, shockingly, trophyless.
While the campaign ended in heartbreak for Real Madrid, there were a few moments from the season which the fans can look at with a twinkle in their eye. Here are the top 5 moments from Real’s 2014/15 campaign -
Clinching the Super Cup to start the season with a bang
Real Madrid played their first official game of the season in the UEFA Super Cup in yet another all-Spanish affair against league rivals and Europa league champions Sevilla. Held in the Cardiff city of Wales, they entered the game as heavy favourites and would go on to seal another piece of silverware with nonchalance.
While all eyes were on the homecoming hero Gareth Bale, it was Cristiano Ronaldo (who else?) who stole the show with an amazing brace. The Welshman though, made a mark on his return to his home country when his lovely cross was met by an unmarked Ronaldo, who put the ball in the net to put the Whites ahead and sealed the Cup just 5 minutes into the second half with a blistering volley from the edge of the box.
Real Madrid lifted only their 2nd European Super Cup and got the new season off to a flyer.
Humbling Barcelona 3-1 in the season’s first El Clasico
The European champions, trailing Barcelona by 4 points, were in a rich vein of form prior to the El Clasico. Trampling every opposition underfoot, they were on an 8-match winning streak and needed to continue the winning spell to catch up with their rivals from Catalonia.
What was expected to be a tight contest, instead, turned into a lopsided affair.
Neymar, who looked rejuvenated right from the start of the season, broke the deadlock in just 5 minutes to give the visitors an unprecedented lead. Boos and jeers started clouding over the home team, but they breathed a sigh of relief when Cristiano Ronaldo restored parity for the hosts from 12-yards after Gerard Pique appeared to have handled the ball inside the penalty area.
Real went ahead early in the second half when Pepe headed the ball home from Luka Modric’s corner and Karim Benzema put the tie beyond doubt with a neat finish right at the hour mark. Barcelona were given a harsh reality check, as they went on lose to at home to Celta Vigo in the very next game and eventually ceded their top spot to Real Madrid.