Real Madrid: Top 10 Defining moments of the 2020/21 season

8. Cup exit at hands of Alcoyano

Real Madrid had a dreadful time at the start of the year and it took a lot of character to get back from that phase and end the season where they did. One important fixture remained their Copa del Rey exit at hands of a third-tier club Alcoyano in the Round of 32.

Real Madrid had to play an unusual Starting XI for this fixture with Mariano Diaz leading the attack and Victor Chust pairing with Eder Militao at the back. However, the side was expected to get past a third-tier opposition.

As it ended, Eder Militao was the only one who could find the net for Real Madrid. He did it in the first half right at the struck of halftime. But Jose Solbes equalized in the 80th minute and Juan Vidal scored a winner in extra-time to eliminate Los Blancos, who missed out on yet another Cup tournament.

7. Round of 16 qualification, Champions League

It was a disastrous run for Real Madrid in the Champions League group stages this season. They lost twice to Shakhtar Donetsk and could register only 3 wins and a draw to take their points tally to 10. Though they ultimately topped their group, it was nowhere the dominant Madrid style on the European stage.

Thanks to Inter Milan’s even dreadful run of form, Real Madrid comfortably advanced to the knockout stages from Group B alongside the German side, Borussia Monchengladbach. Real Madrid defeated the German side 2-0 in the all-important final matchday of the group stages.

It was a season-defining moment for Los Blancos because they clutched a meager 2-point lead over the second and third-placed clubs and for a moment it seemed like Los Blancos may have had to play Europa League Football.