Real Madrid: Three hopes, one fear

MADRID, SPAIN - OCTOBER 02: Gareth Bale of Real Madrid celebrates with Pepe after scoring Real's opening goal during the La Liga Match between Real Madrid CF and SD Eibar at estadio Santiago Bernabeu on October 2, 2016 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN - OCTOBER 02: Gareth Bale of Real Madrid celebrates with Pepe after scoring Real's opening goal during the La Liga Match between Real Madrid CF and SD Eibar at estadio Santiago Bernabeu on October 2, 2016 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images) /
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MADRID, SPAIN – OCTOBER 02: Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane emerges form the tunnel for the start of the La Liga match between Real Madrid CF and SD Eibar at estadio Santiago Bernabeu on October 2, 2016 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – OCTOBER 02: Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane emerges form the tunnel for the start of the La Liga match between Real Madrid CF and SD Eibar at estadio Santiago Bernabeu on October 2, 2016 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images) /

Hope #1: That they can win the La Liga title.

For all of Real Madrid’s recent success in the UEFA Champions League one title has eluded them recently: the La Liga title. Although Madrid have 32 La Liga titles the club has won it just three times in the last ten seasons.  With FC Barcelona having won the lion’s share of La Liga titles in recent seasons and Atletico Madrid snapping one back in 2013-2014 it is apparent that Spain’s top prize is no longer a gimme for Real.

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Make no mistake about it: the La Liga title is important to Madrid. The club always seems to tout their sheer number of La Liga titles as a sign of their dominance over the rest of Spain and in particular Barcelona. It may not happen this season but given recent trends there could be a day where Barcelona catches their El Classico rival, putting an end to their self-proclaimed dominance.

If there is one particular thing that Madrid could do to improve their chances at winning the La Liga title it is their road form. Madrid’s road record last season on the surface does not look too bad (12-2-5). But if you dig deep you see points dropped against Real Betis, Villarreal, and Malaga. This might sound like splitting hairs and every team drops a match or two. But three or four games is a bit much and can really cost a team at the end of the season.