2023–24 Real Madrid CF season

The 2023–24 season was Real Madrid Club de Fútbol's 120th season in existence and the club's 93rd consecutive season in the top flight of Spanish football. In addition to the domestic league, Real Madrid participated in this season's editions of the Copa del Rey, the Supercopa de España and the UEFA Champions League.

On the domestic front, Madrid delivered the Supercopa de España trophy, beating Barcelona 4–1 in the final to win their 13th title in the competition, and conquered a record-extending 36th La Liga championship with four games to spare. These two trophies also marked Carlo Ancelotti's 11th and 12th in charge of Real Madrid, overtaking Zinedine Zidane's tally to make the Italian the second most successful manager in the club's history. In the Champions League, Madrid beat Borussia Dortmund 2–0 in the final to a record-extending 15th European Cup, with Dani Carvajal, Toni Kroos, Luka Modrić and Nacho equalling Paco Gento’s record of six European Cup titles, as Ancelotti won his fifth trophy in the tournament, the most among the managers. Real also claimed their fifth ever European double (after 1956–57, 1957–58, 2016–17, and 2021–22).

This season was the first since 2008–09 to not feature Karim Benzema, who departed to Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad and the first since 2015–16 without Marco Asensio, who left Los Merengues to join French side Paris Saint-Germain.

Kits

 * Notes

Pre-season
On 3 June, at the end of the 2022–23 season, Madrid announced the departure of Marco Asensio with the player having spent seven seasons playing for Los Blancos. On the same day, the club said goodbye to Mariano and Eden Hazard. The following day, Madrid announced an agreement with Karim Benzema for the club captain to depart in the summer after 14 years of service, with the Frenchman leaving the club as the joint-most decorated player in Real's history, having won 25 trophies. On 9 June, Madrid confirmed the return of the former club's academy player, Fran García, triggering the release clause to sign him from Rayo Vallecano on a four-year contract. The next day, Madrid announced that Brahim Díaz will be part of the first team for the 2023–24 season, additionally extending his contract until 2027. On 14 June, Madrid announced the signing of young midfielder Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund, penning a six-year deal with the Englishman. Five days later, Madrid brought back another club's youth academy product, signing Joselu on a one-year loan from Espanyol. On 21 June, Toni Kroos renewed his contract with the club until 2024. The next day, Madrid announced that the club's new captain, Nacho, had extended his contract for one more season, keeping him at Real until 2024. On 23 June, Dani Ceballos extended until 2027. Three days later, Madrid and Luka Modrić agreed on a one-season extension, with the Croatian signing a contract until 2024. On 6 July, Madrid announced the signing of Arda Güler from Fenerbahçe, agreeing a six-year deal with the Turkish talent. On 15 July, Jesús Vallejo joined Granada on a season-long loan.

August
On 12 August, Madrid started their 2023–24 campaign with a 2–0 El Viejo Clásico win at the San Mamés, beating Athletic Bilbao in the first matchday of La Liga with a strike from Rodrygo and Bellingham's debut goal. Two days later, following Thibaut Courtois' ACL injury, Madrid signed Kepa Arrizabalaga from Chelsea as his replacement on a season-long loan deal. On 19 August, Madrid took on Almería on the road and managed to get a 3–1 win, thanks to a brace from Bellingham and a goal from Vinícius Júnior. Six days later, a late Bellingham header helped Madrid to obtain a narrow 1–0 away win against Celta Vigo and continue their perfect league start.

September
On 1 September, the deadline day of the summer transfer window, Álvaro Odriozola returned to Real Sociedad on a permanent basis. The following day, a close-range goal from Joselu and Bellingham's injury time winner gave Ancelotti's side a 2–1 comeback win over Getafe in their first league game of the season at the Santiago Bernabéu. After the international break, on 17 September, second-half goals from Federico Valverde and Joselu earned Madrid a 2–1 home win over Real Sociedad, extending the team's winning run to five games. Three days later, another late winner from Bellingham clinched Madrid a 1–0 win against Union Berlin in the first matchday of the Champions League. On 24 September, Ancelotti's side suffered their first defeat in the season, as the away Madrid derby match against Atlético Madrid ended in a 1–3 loss, with the team's only goal coming from Kroos. Three days later, Madrid defeated Las Palmas 2–0 at home, as Brahim and Joselu got on the scoresheet. The last match of September ended in another win for Real after they beat Girona 3–0 away on 30 September to reclaim the league's first place, courtesy of goals from Joselu, Aurélien Tchouaméni, a debut one for the Frenchman, and Bellingham.

October
On 3 October, finishes from Vinícius and Bellingham, as well as an own goal, got Madrid a 3–2 turnaround win over Napoli at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in their second Champions League match of the season. Four days later, Osasuna was beaten 4–0 at home, thanks to a brace from Bellingham and goals from Vinícius and Joselu. After another international break, Madrid returned to play on 21 October with a 1–1 away draw against Sevilla, as Dani Carvajal got on the scoresheet. Three days later, Madrid faced Braga away from home in the Champions League, beating the Portuguese side 2–1 with goals from Rodrygo and Bellingham. On 28 October, Bellingham scored two goals to give Madrid a late 2–1 comeback victory over Barcelona at the Olímpic Lluís Companys in the first El Clásico of the season. Three days later, Vinícius prolongated his agreement with the club through 2027.

November
On 2 November, Madrid announced that Rodrygo had renewed his contract until 2028. Three days later, Madrid's home game versus Rayo Vallecano ended in a 0–0 stalemate. On 7 November, Eduardo Camavinga extended until 2029. The next day, Champions League goals from Brahim, Vinícius and Rodrygo qualified Madrid to the knockout phase, as Ancelotti's side defeated Braga 3–0 at the Santiago Bernabéu. On 9 November, Valverde signed a contract extension until 2029. On 11 November, an early Carvajal goal and braces from Vinícius and Rodrygo gave Madrid a smashing 5–1 victory over Valencia at home. On 26 November, Madrid's away league game versus Cádiz ended in a 3–0 win with a Rodrygo brace and a goal from Bellingham. Three days later, Madrid secured the first spot in their Champions League group with a 4–2 win against Napoli, as first-half strikes from Rodrygo and Bellingham were followed up by the debut goal from Castilla's Nico Paz and Joselu's close-range shot.

December
Ancelotti's side started the month with a win, beating Granada 2–0 on 2 December, with goals from Brahim and Rodrygo. A week later, Madrid took on Real Betis, but was unable to take three points, as Bellingham's goal gave his team a 1–1 draw. On 12 December, a brace from Joselu and Ceballos' goal helped Madrid to get a 3–2 win over Union Berlin and a perfect result in the Champions League group stage for the third time in the club's history. Five days later, Madrid's last 2023 game at the Bernabéu ended in a 4–1 victory over Villarreal, as Bellingham, Rodrygo, Brahim and Modrić got on the scoresheet. On 21 December, a Lucas Vázquez header in injury time gave Madrid a 1–0 win over Alavés to end the year as the league leaders. Eight days later, Ancelotti renewed his contract until 2026.

January
On 3 January, Madrid started off 2024 by beating Mallorca 1–0 at the Bernabéu, thanks to a late headed goal by Antonio Rüdiger. Three days later, goals from Joselu, Brahim and Rodrygo helped Madrid to get a 3–1 Copa del Rey win over Arandina and progress to the round of 16. On 10 January, the first 2024 Supercopa de España semi-final ended in favor of Real, as goals from Rüdiger, Ferland Mendy and Carvajal helped Madrid reach extra time, where a deflected header from Joselu and Brahim's long-range shot on an empty net gave their team a 5–3 win over Atlético Madrid. Four days later, the Brazilian duo of Vinícius and Rodrygo scored all goals in Madrid's 4–1 victory over El Clásico rivals Barcelona, with the former getting his second career hat-trick to help Real conquer their 13th Spanish Super Cup title. On 19 January, two late goals in extra time from Atlético Madrid saw Ancelotti's side being eliminated from the Copa Del Rey 2–4 away, as one own goal and one from Joselu were not enough in a second loss at the Metropolitano Stadium. Three days later, Madrid won 3–2 after being down by two goals against Almería at half-time, with the goals coming from Bellingham and Vinícius, as well as a stoppage time winner by Carvajal. On 24 January, Éder Militão signed a contract extension until 2028. Three days later, Madrid beat Las Palmas 2–1 away, with a goal from Vinícius and a late winner by Tchouaméni.

February
On 1 February, a brace from Joselu gave Madrid a 2–0 away victory over Getafe in the first game of the month. Three days later, another match against Atlético Madrid ended in a 1–1 draw at the Bernabéu, as Brahim's first-half goal was cancelled out by a late equaliser. On 10 February, Madrid won 4–0 over Girona at home to strengthen their lead in the league, through goals from Vinícius and Rodrygo, as well as a brace from Bellingham. Three days later, a wondergoal from Brahim was enough to beat Champions League round of 16 opponents RB Leipzig 1–0 in the first leg. On 18 February, Madrid was halted by Rayo Vallecano to a 1–1 draw away, with Joselu getting on the scoresheet. Seven days later, Sevilla was defeated 1–0 at Bernabéu, courtesy of a late strike from Modrić.

March
The month started for Madrid with a 2–2 away draw against Valencia on 2 March, as Vinícius got a brace. Five days later, Vinícius scored his team's goal in the 1–1 home draw of the Champions League second leg against RB Leipzig, prevailing Madrid to the quarter-finals. On 10 March, Madrid beat Celta Vigo 4–0 at home, with strikes from Vinícius and Güler, a debut one for the Turk, as well as two own goals. Six days later, Madrid beat Osasuna 4–2 away, as Vinícius got on the scoresheet twice alongside Carvajal and Brahim. On 31 March, Madrid concluded the month at home with Rodrygo's brace sealing a 2–0 victory against Athletic Bilbao. The match also saw the return of Militão from his ACL injury.

April
On 9 April, Madrid opened the month with the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals tie against Manchester City at home, as an own goal and strikes from Rodrygo and Valverde helped Real to end the match in a thrilling 3–3 draw. Four days later, a lone goal from outside the box by Tchouaméni gave Madrid a 1–0 win at Mallorca. On 17 April, Rodrygo's goal was enough to see Madrid hold Manchester City to a 1–1 draw at the City of Manchester Stadium in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals, sending the tie to extra time and ultimately penalty shootout, where Ancelotti's side prevailed 4–3 to book their place in the semi-finals. Four days later, Madrid managed to get a 3–2 victory over Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabéu with the help of goals from Vinícius and Vázquez and a stoppage time winner from Bellingham, sealing their third El Clásico win in a row this season, for the first time since 1935–36. On 26 April, Madrid's away game against Real Sociedad ended in a 1–0 win, as Güler scored on his first La Liga start. Four days later, a double from Vinícius earned Madrid a 2–2 away draw against Bayern Munich in the first game of the Champions League semi-finals, which was the first European Clásico for Real since the 2017–18 encounter.

May
Madrid started the month with a home match against Cádiz on 4 May, as second-half goals from Brahim, Bellingham and Joselu gave Real a 3–0 win. This game also marked Courtois' first appearance of the season after recovering from his knee injuries. On the same day, with Girona beating Barcelona 4–2, Madrid were crowned La Liga champions for the record-extending 36th time. On 8 May, Madrid faced Bayern Munich in the reverse leg of the Champions League semi-finals at the Santiago Bernabéu. Trailing 0–1 in the 87th minute, a late brace from Joselu gave his team a 2–1 win in the match and 4–3 on aggregate to send Real to the final for the sixth time in eleven years, knocking the German side out for the fourth time in a row. Three days later, Madrid took on already-relegated Granada, winning 4–0, as García's debut goal for the club was followed up by a finish from Güler and a brace from Brahim. On 14 May, an early opener from Bellingham with Vinícius' brace and goals from Valverde and Güler gave Ancelotti's side a crushing 5–0 win over Alavés, as Madrid kept a club record 20th clean sheet in this La Liga campaign. Five days later, Madrid gave up a three-goal lead away to Villarreal at the Estadio de la Cerámica, the match ending in a 4–4 draw, with goals from Vázquez, Joselu, and a double from Güler. On 25 May, in the season’s last league game, Madrid drew Real Betis 0–0, as Kroos bid a farewell to the Bernabéu.

June
Madrid's only game of the month and their last match of the season was the Champions League final at the Wembley Stadium against Borussia Dortmund. A header from Carvajal and a strike from Vinícius late in the second half prevailed Los Blancos to a 2–0 win, as they clinched a record-extending 15th European Cup, their sixth in eleven years, Ancelotti's third in charge and fifth overall, the most among the managers, with Carvajal, Kroos, Modrić and Nacho equalling Paco Gento’s record of six European Cup titles and surpassing the former trio consisting of Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale, and Cristiano Ronaldo. Additionally, Modrić and Nacho won their 26th title in Real Madrid to become the players with the most trophies in the history of the club, surpassing Benzema and Marcelo.

Pre-season and friendlies
On 13 May 2023, Real Madrid announced they would travel to the United States to participate in the pre-season Soccer Champions Tour for the second time since last year's summer activity.

Matches
The league fixtures were announced on 22 June 2023.

Copa del Rey
Madrid entered the tournament in the round of 32, as they had qualified for the 2024 Supercopa de España.

Supercopa de España
Madrid qualified for the tournament by winning the 2022–23 Copa del Rey.

Group stage
The group stage draw was held on 31 August 2023.

Round of 16
The draw for the round of 16 was held on 18 December 2023.

Quarter-finals
The draw for the quarter-finals and semi-finals was held on 15 March 2024.

Squad statistics
† Player left Madrid during the season.

Goals
Source: FBREF

Clean sheets
Source: FBREF