The defending champions are the clear favourites early on to retain their title heading into the new season, after a formidable end to their domestic campaign to overthrow Barcelona. Zinedine Zidane’s men had work to do with Barca keeping them adrift by a couple of points throughout the season.
However, Madrid ended up going on a ten-game winning run, soon after an El Classico win, that saw them take over the Catalan giants at the top of the table towards the end of the campaign. A draw in their last league match away to Leganes, their eleventh game unbeaten in the league, saw them finish off five points clear above Barca in the final standings.
Two defeats in Europe at the hands of Manchester City suggest Zidane’s side still needs some improvement to return to the old dominant juggernaut that Madrid have been in previous years. However, there are still plenty of gifted athletes and experienced heads that can guide them to a title defence next year.
The current turmoil at Barcelona, and the uncertainty that they find themselves in going into the beginning of Ronald Koeman’s reign, also gives Los Blancos the favourite 10/11 price.