Real Madrid achieved a groundbreaking club record during the initial half of the 2023/24 La Liga season by allowing only 11 goals in 19 games. Concerns arose earlier in the season when key players Thibaut Courtois and Eder Militao suffered serious ACL injuries, and the team faced additional setbacks as David Alaba succumbed to the same issue in December.
Despite the absence of three first-choice defenders, Madrid remarkably conceded just 11 goals in the first half of the campaign. Carlo Ancelotti’s squad not only boasts the best defensive record in La Liga but also, as highlighted by Marca, has never before conceded so few goals midway through a 38-game season. The previous record was 12 goals conceded in the first 19 games, achieved in the 1987/88 and 2019/20 seasons, both of which resulted in Madrid winning the title.
The feat of conceding only 11 goals in 19 games hadn’t been accomplished by Madrid since the 1961/62 season, although the campaign consisted of only 30 matches at that time. Nevertheless, Madrid emerged victorious in that season as well.
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In the context of Europe’s top ten divisions, only Inter and Nice have conceded fewer goals at this stage in the season, while Juventus has matched Madrid’s record of 11.
Carlo Ancelotti has overseen a defensive masterclass this season despite the absence of a definitive first-choice goalkeeper. Courtois’ injury prompted the loan signing of Kepa Arrizabalaga from Chelsea, who played 11 times and conceded seven goals before yielding his place to the team’s usual deputy, Andriy Lunin.
Lunin, a 24-year-old whose contract expires this summer, has impressively conceded only four goals in his eight appearances this season. Although there is hope for Militao’s return in the coming months, Alaba is set to miss the rest of the season, and Courtois has confirmed his absence from Euro 2024 due to his injury.