Real Madrid’s season prospects and what they need to do in March

Real Madrid are seemingly on course of regaining La Liga supremacy this season, but their hopes of reaching the Champions League quarter-finals are hanging by a thread.

Los Blancos have hit the ground running in the league this term, and with only 11 La Liga fixtures left, they hold a substantial eight-point lead on closest followers Sevilla. 

With arch-rivals Barcelona and reigning champions Atletico Madrid already a whopping 15 points behind, Carlo Ancelotti’s men are in pole position to lift the crown.

Since succumbing to a shock 1-0 loss away to relegation-threatened Getafe in their inaugural La Liga fixture of 2022, they have gone unbeaten in their last seven league outings (W5, D2).

Madrid have gone from strength to strength since mid-February, racking up three consecutive top-flight victories by an aggregate score of 8-1 to solidify their position at the top of the La Liga table. 

Los Merengues brushed Real Sociedad aside in their first game in March, coming from behind to seal a stunning 4-1 win at the Santiago Bernabeu last time out. 

Although they only have two more La Liga matches coming up this month, Real Madrid’s schedule in March could prove crucial to their hopes of wrapping up their 35th league title.

Trip to Mallorca 

There will be no margin for error when Ancelotti’s side take on out-of-sorts Mallorca at the Visit Mallorca Estadi on March 14. 

Los Piratas have lost each of their last four league games, scoring four goals while conceding nine in return across that spread of fixtures. 

A poor run of form has seen Mallorca slip to 16th in the table, as a narrow two-point lead on 18th-placed Cadiz sparks relegation fears in Luis Garcia’s camp.

That could make Mallorca a threat here, even though Madrid dismantled them 6-1 in the nation’s capital back in September.

But there will be no excuse for Ancelotti’s team if they fail to take home all three points.

El Clasico

A potentially season-defining encounter will pit Madrid against old foes Barcelona in the famous El Clasico on March 20. 

Los Merengues eked out a 2-1 victory in the reverse fixture earlier this season, but the Blaugrana have since undergone a renaissance under Xavi’s stewardship.

Inspired by a raft of high-profile January additions, the Catalan giants again look like their former selves, crushing everything in their way. 

Sergio Busquets and co have lost both previous league visits to Madrid, and they will be keen to snap that run this month. 

Although Barca’s hopes of lifting the league crown are already dead in the water, they will settle for throwing a spanner in Madrid’s pursuit of domestic supremacy.

However, picking up all three points in the premier fixture in Spanish football could set the tone for Madrid’s title-winning campaign. 

Champions League hopes up in the air

Kylian Mbappe’s late heroics sunk Madrid in Paris three weeks ago, giving Paris Saint-Germain a slender 1-0 lead ahead of the return leg of this mouth-watering Champions League last-16 tie.

Mauricio Pochettino boasts a star-studded squad, but PSG’s recent performances have flattered to deceive, so they should be taking nothing for granted here.

Paris’ dismal 1-0 Ligue 1 defeat away to Nice at the weekend showed they are not as indestructible as it seemed, handing the Bernabeu faithful plenty of reason for optimism.

Los Merengues are slight favourites to win at home on Wednesday, especially with Mbappe’s availability hanging in the balance.

It’s a match that will see a massive spike in demand for Real Madrid live streaming sites, as fans flock to see whether home advantage can help them advance to the next round.