Real Madrid have equalled their worst ever performance in the UEFA Champions League following their 3-0 loss to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
In what was expected to be a competitive game, Arsenal demolished Real Madrid in emphatic fashion. Declan Rice scored two amazing free kick before Mikel Merino put an icing on the cake with a well taken strike.
Defeat at Arsenal was Real Madrid’s fifth loss of the season in the competition. This result equals the club’s worst-ever performance in a single Champions League campaign, previously recorded in the 2000-01 season.
During the 2000-01 season, Real Madrid lost five matches under Vicente del Bosque. That season, they were eliminated in the semi-finals by Bayern Munich after losing both legs.
In the earlier stages, defeats to Spartak Moscow and Anderlecht had already exposed weaknesses in the squad.
Carlo Ancelotti, head coach of Real Madrid CF, is currently facing the heat (Photo by Alberto Gardin/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Though they managed to overturn a first-leg loss against Galatasaray in the quarterfinals, their journey ended in disappointment at the hands of Bayern.
24 years down the line, Carlo Ancelotti’s team are set to repeat similar feat but this time they might be out in the quarterfinals.
Madrid’s performances in the Champions League this season have been average. Their group stage campaign included defeats to Lille in France and AC Milan at home. They also lost away to Liverpool at Anfield.
In the round of 16, they narrowly progressed against Atletico Madrid, only managing to advance on penalties after a 1-0 defeat at the Metropolitano.
Until now, Ancelotti had maintained an impressive record in the Champions League with Real Madrid, consistently reaching the semi-final stage and never suffering this many defeats in one campaign.
