2018–19 Real Madrid CF season

After Zinedine Zidane's departure,[2][3] Madrid announced on 12 June 2018, that Julen Lopetegui would take over the head coaching position.[4]

On 22 June 2018, Madrid announced their first signing of the season, adding Andriy Lunin to the squad.[5] On 5 July 2018, Madrid signed Álvaro Odriozola.[6] Five days later, Madrid agreed to sell Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus.[7][8]

Thibaut Courtois joined Madrid on 8 August 2018 from Chelsea,[9] while Mateo Kovačić moved to Chelsea on loan.[10]

The season started on 15 August, with the 2018 UEFA Super Cup against Atlético Madrid. The game was lost 2–4 after extra time. Karim Benzema and Sergio Ramos gave Madrid the 2–1 lead up until ten minutes before the end of the game. It was the first European finals loss after nine wins.[11] The new La Liga season started with a 2–0 victory against Getafe four days later, with goals from Dani Carvajal and Gareth Bale.[12] Against Girona, Madrid came out with a 4–1 victory from behind, with a brace from Benzema and goals from Ramos and Bale.[13] On 29 August 2018, Mariano Díaz returned to Madrid.[14]

On the first day of the new month, a brace from Benzema and goals from Bale and Ramos secured Madrid three points in a 4–1 win over Leganés.[15] The away game at Athletic Bilbao, on 15 September 2018, ended in a 1–1 draw with the lone goal coming from Isco.[16] Four days later, in the first match of group stage of the 2018–19 UEFA Champions League, Madrid defeated Roma 3–0 after goals from Bale, Isco and Mariano.[17] Marco Asensio scored the lonely goal in a 1–0 win over RCD Espanyol, just three days later.[18] The first loss of the league season came on 26 September 2018, against Sevilla, losing 0–3.[19] In the first league Madrid Derby against Atlético, the match ended in a goalless draw three days later.[20]

Marco Asensio in an away Champions League group stage game against CSKA Moscow, with the left sleeve of his shirt prominently featuring an updated UCL multiple-winner badge, courtesy of Madrid's triumph in the 2018 edition

On 2 October 2018, the Champions League match at CSKA Moscow ended in a 0–1 loss.[21] Four days later, against Deportivo Alavés, Madrid lost again 0–1.[22] Their next game was a 1–2 loss against Levante UD on 20 October 2018, with the lone goal coming from Marcelo.[23] The Champions League match, three days later, against Viktoria Plzeň ended in a 2–1 win with goals from Benzema and Marcelo.[24] Five days later, El Clásico was lost 1–5 with the goal coming from Marcelo.[25] On 29 October 2018, Lopetegui was sacked and replaced by Santiago Solari.[26] On the last day of the month, Madrid took on UD Melilla in the Copa del Rey round of 32 and won 4–0 after goals from Benzema, Asensio, Odriozola and Cristo González.[27]

On 3 November 2018, a penalty from Ramos and a goal from Vinícius Júnior gave Madrid a 2–0 victory over Real Valladolid.[28] Four days later, the return game at Viktoria Plzeň in the Champions League ended with a 5–0 win, Benzema scored a brace and Bale, Casemiro and Toni Kroos each added one goal.[29] Madrid defeated Celta Vigo 4–2 on 11 November 2018, after a goal from Benzema, Ramos, Dani Ceballos and an own goal.[30] Solari became the official coach on 13 November 2018, after signing a contract through 2021.[31] The away game at SD Eibar on 24 November 2018, was lost 0–3.[32] The Champions League match at Roma was won 2–0 by goals from Bale and Lucas Vázquez. With that win, Madrid advance to the knockout stage.[33]

On the first day of the month, an own goal and a goal from Vázquez secured Madrid three points after a 2–0 win over Valencia CF.[34] The return leg of the Copa del rey round of 32 tie against Melilla on 6 December 2018, was won 6–1 to give Madrid a 10–1 victory on aggregate. Goals were scored with braces from Asensio and Isco plus goals from Vinícius and Javi Sánchez.[35] Three days later, a Bale goal gave Real a 1–0 victory over SD Huesca.[36] Madrid suffered a 0–3 loss against CSKA Moscow in the last matchday of the Champions League group stage.[37] A lone goal by Benzema helped Madrid to win 1–0 against Rayo Vallecano on 15 December 2018.[38] On 19 December 2018, the semifinal of the 2018 FIFA Club World Cup was won 3–1 against Kashima Antlers with a hat-trick from Bale.[39] The final three days later was won 4–1 against Al-Ain after goals from Luka Modrić, Marcos Llorente, Ramos and an own goal.[40]

In the first game of the new year on 3 January 2019, Madrid drew Villarreal 2–2 with goals from Benzema and Raphaël Varane.[41] Three days later, the match against Real Sociedad was lost 0–2.[42] On 6 January 2019, Madrid announced the signing of Brahim Díaz.[43] Goals from Ramos, Vázquez and Vinícius gave Madrid a 3–0 first leg win against Leganés on 9 January 2019, in the round of 16 in the Copa del Rey.[44] On 13 January 2019, a late goal from Ceballos gave Madrid a 2–1 away win against Real Betis after Modrić scored the other goal.[45] Despite an 0–1 loss in the second leg three days later, an aggregate 3–1 victory over Leganés secured Madrid a place in the quarterfinals of the Copa del Rey.[46] Kiko Casilla joined Leeds United on 17 January 2019.[47] Two days later, Madrid defeated Sevilla 2–0 with goals from Casemiro and Modrić.[48] A brace from Ramos and added goals by Vázquez and Benzema helped Madrid to get a 4–2 first leg victory over Girona in the quarterfinals of the Copa del Rey on 24 January.[49] Three days later, Real recorded another 4–2 victory, this time over Espanyol, with two goals from Benzema and goals from Ramos and Bale.[50]

On 3 February, Madrid won 3–0 against Alavés after goals from Benzema, Vinicius and Mariano.[51] The first leg of the semifinals of the Copa del Rey against Barcelona on 6 February, ended in a 1–1 draw after Vázquez gave Madrid the lead.[52] Three days later, Real won the Derby against Atlético 3–1 after goals from Casemiro, Ramos and Bale to move up to the second place.[53] In the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 against AFC Ajax on 13 February, Madrid came away with a 2–1 away win with goals from Benzema and Asensio.[54] Four days later, Girona defeated Madrid with a score of 2–1, with the lone goal coming from Casemiro.[55] A 2–1 victory over Levante was recorded on 24 February, after goals from Benzema and Bale, both being penalties.[56] Three days later, Madrid was knocked by Barcelona of the Copa del rey after a 0–3 second leg defeat, resulting in a 1–4 aggregate loss.[57]

The next Clásico on 2 March was lost 0–1.[58] Three days later, in the return leg in the Champions League round of 16 against Ajax, Madrid suffered a 1–4 home loss and was eliminated with 3–5 on aggregate.[59] On 10 March, the game against Valladolid was won 4–1 after a brace from Benzema and goals from Varane and Modrić.[60] Zidane returned as the head coach the next day while Solari was sacked.[61] On 16 March, Celta Vigo was defeated 2–0 with goals from Isco and Bale.[62] On the last day of the month, goals from Isco, Ceballos and a late one from Benzema secured Madrid three points in a 3–2 win over Huesca.[63]

On 3 April, the away game at Valencia was lost 1–2, with the lone goal coming from Benzema.[64] Three days later, a brace from Benzema secured Madrid a 2–1 win over Eibar.[65] On 15 April, Madrid got a 1–1 draw at Leganés with a goal from Benzema.[66] A hat-trick from Benzema secured Madrid a 3–0 win over Athletic Bilbao on 21 April 2019.[67] At Getafe, on 25 April, Madrid was held to a scoreless draw.[68] Three days later, the away game at Vallecano was lost 0–1.[69]

On 5 May, Madrid defeated Villarreal 3–2 with a brace from Mariano and a goal from Jesús Vallejo.[70] A week later, the away game at Real Sociedad was lost 1–3, with the lone goal coming from Brahim Díaz. With that result, it was secured that Real finishes the season in third place.[71] The last game of the season was lost 0–2 against Real Betis on 19 May 2019.[72] A day later, Kroos signed a new contract until 2023.[73]

No.	Pos.	Nat.	Name	Age	EU	Moving from	Type	Transfer window	Ends	Transfer fee	Source
7	FW		Mariano	25	EU	Lyon	Transfer	Summer	2023	€22M	Real Madrid CF
15	MF		Federico Valverde	19	Non-EU	Real Madrid Castilla	Promoted	Summer	2021	Free
19	DF		Álvaro Odriozola	22	EU	Real Sociedad	Transfer	Summer	2024	€30M	Real Madrid CF
25	GK		Thibaut Courtois	26	EU	Chelsea	Transfer	Summer	2024	€35M	Real Madrid CF
28	FW		Vinícius Júnior	18	Non-EU	Flamengo	Transfer	Summer	2023	€45M	Real Madrid CF
	GK		Andriy Lunin	19	EU	Zorya Luhansk	Transfer	Summer	2024	€8.5M	Real Madrid CF
	DF		Fábio Coentrão	30	EU	Sporting CP	End of Loan	Summer	2019	Free
	DF		Philipp Lienhart	21	EU	SC Freiburg	End of Loan	Summer	2018	Free
	MF		Omar Mascarell	25	EU	Eintracht Frankfurt	Buy-Back clause	Summer	2018	€4M
	MF		Martin Ødegaard	19	EU	SC Heerenveen	End of Loan	Summer	2021	Free
	MF		Lucas Torró	23	EU	Osasuna	Buy-Back clause	Summer	2018	€1.75M
	FW		Raúl de Tomás	23	EU	Real Madrid Castilla	Promoted	Summer	2023	Free
21	MF		Brahim Díaz	19	EU	Manchester City	Signing	Winter	2025	€17M	Real Madrid CF

Total Spending: €163.25M

N	Pos.	Nat.	Name	Age	EU	Moving to	Type	Transfer window	Transfer fee	Source
7	FW		Cristiano Ronaldo	33	EU	Juventus	Transfer	Summer	€117M	Juventus F.C.
15	DF		Theo Hernandez	20	EU	Real Sociedad	Loan	Summer	Free	Real Sociedad
19	DF		Achraf Hakimi	19	EU	Borussia Dortmund	Loan	Summer	Free	Borussia Dortmund
21	FW		Borja Mayoral	21	EU	Levante	Loan	Summer	Free	Levante UD
23	MF		Mateo Kovačić	24	EU	Chelsea	Loan	Summer	Free	Chelsea F.C.
	GK		Andriy Lunin	19	EU	Leganés	Loan	Summer	Free	CD Leganés
	DF		Fábio Coentrão	30	EU	Rio Ave	Released	Summer	Free	Rio Ave F.C.
	DF		Philipp Lienhart	21	EU	SC Freiburg	Transfer	Summer	€2M	SC Freiburg
	DF		Álvaro Tejero	21	EU	Albacete	Loan	Summer	Free	Albacete Balompié
	MF		Aleix Febas	22	EU	Albacete	Loan	Summer	Free	Albacete Balompié
	MF		Omar Mascarell	25	EU	Schalke 04	Transfer	Summer	€10M	FC Schalke 04
	MF		Martin Ødegaard	19	EU	Vitesse	Loan	Summer	Free	SBV Vitesse
	MF		Óscar Rodríguez	20	EU	Leganés	Loan	Summer	Free	CD Leganés
	MF		Lucas Torró	23	EU	Eintracht Frankfurt	Transfer	Summer	€3.5M	Eintracht Frankfurt
	FW		Raúl de Tomás	23	EU	Rayo Vallecano	Loan	Summer	Free	Rayo Vallecano
	FW		Sergio Díaz	20	Non-EU	Corinthians	Loan	Summer	Free	Sport Club Corinthians Paulista
	FW		Mink Peeters	20	EU	Lleida	Loan	Summer	Free	Lleida Esportiu
13	GK		Kiko Casilla	32	EU	Leeds United	Signing	Winter	Free	Leeds United F.C.

Total Income: €132.5M

Net Income: €30.75M

Madrid joined the competition in the group stage.[79]