'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#3 The indifferent form of Real Madrid's title rivals
After La Liga action resumed following the COVID-19 break, Real Madrid leapfrogged league leaders and defending champions Barcelona to lift a record-extending 34th title in the competition.
Trending
Barcelona were unable to keep up with the rampant pace of Los Blancos and floundered well before the finish line in what was touted to be one of the tightest La Liga title races in recent memory.
In the Champions League quarterfinals, Bayern Munich handed the Blaugrana their worst defeat in seven decades to compound the Liga club's misery.
This meant that Barcelona endured a first trophyless season in 12 years, prompting calls for a massive overhaul at the club. Quique Setien was replaced by Ronald Koeman, and several 'deadwood' players were planned to be jettisoned.
In this backdrop, Lionel Messi dropped a bombshell informing Barcelona of his wish to leave the club in what quickly became the biggest football story of this summer.
The talismanic Argentine eventually decided to stay on for the upcoming season. But with several unsettled players at the club and a paucity of quality incoming personnel, it could be a while before Barcelona become a contender for La Liga.
Real Madrid's other Liga rivals, Atletico Madrid, also had an underwhelming season despite a summer of expensive acquisitions. The Rojiblancos were solid at the back but suffered from a lack of goals upfront - an issue that also afflicted Europa League winners Sevilla who finished fourth in La Liga last season.
In other words, all three principal rivals of Real Madrid appear to be in transition and are unlikely to mount a strong title challenge, a situation that perfectly plays into the hands of the record Liga champions.
#4 Zinedine Zidane's tactical nous and title-winning pedigree
Zinedine Zidane is indeed the man with the golden touch. After a spectacular first spell in charge of Real Madrid that yielded ten trophies, including three consecutive Champions League titles, the Frenchman found himself back at the club's helm a few months after leaving the side in the summer of 2018.
Despite his arrival at the fag end of the 2018-19 season, Zidane managed to steer the side to a creditable third-placed finish that guaranteed Champions League football next season.
The Frenchman then turned his attention to return the club to winning ways. He did so by making Real Madrid evolve from a counter-attacking side to one that plays intelligent possession-based football.
Zidane eased youngsters Rodrygo, Vinicius Junior and new arrival Ferland Mendy into the side as he strived to keep things tight at the back.
Madrid learnt to win the unspectacular way as they eked out several solitary goal wins after the resumption of La Liga to keep the pressure on leaders Barcelona who eventually floundered.
Zidane, like most successful managers in the game, is not tactically rigid. Real Madrid played in many different formations last season and exhibited admirable tactical flexibility by altering their shape depending on the opposition or match situation.
He also managed to keep his key players fresh by making frequent changes to his playing-XI without affecting the team's dynamic or potency.
By winning the La Liga title last season, Zidane picked up his 11th trophy with Real Madrid, averaging a title every 19 games for Los Merengues. The Frenchman is now just three titles away from becoming Real Madrid's most successful manager in terms of titles won.
With a manager of such tactical nous and title-winning pedigree, coupled with the presence of experienced veterans like Ramos, Benzema, Carvajal, Kroos and Modric, it may not be a surprise if Real Madrid find themselves at the top of the table following the end of the 2020-21 La Liga campaign.
#5 The return of Martin Odegaard
Continuing with his policy of building a team for the future without sacrificing on the competitive front, Zidane decided to cut short the loan stint of Martin Odegaard who impressed with Real Sociedad last season.
The precocious Norwegian became the youngest player in the club's history when the then 16-year-old made his Real Madrid debut in a 2014-15 La Liga game against Getafe.
With first-team opportunities not immediately forthcoming, Odegaard was sent out on loan spells with Heerenveen, Vitesse and Real Sociedad to continue his development.
At Sociedad last season, the left-footed attacking midfielder scored four Liga goals and provided six assists as the club finished a respectable sixth to qualify for the Europa League. During his stint with Vitesse, the Norwegian impressed with his ability to create goal-scoring opportunities for his team.
Despite Sociedad keen on continuing the player's loan spell, Real Madrid decided that Odegaard was ready to challenge for a place in the first-team and duly called him back to the capital. Interestingly, it marked the first time Zidane cut short a player's loan stint during his reign at the club.
Odegaard is renowned for his creativity, dribbling, ball-control and set-piece prowess, He could lend a cutting edge to the Madrid attack and take pressure off Benzema by chipping in with the occasional goal.
His versatility means that Zidane could deploy him in a 4-3-3 or a 4-4-2, two of the Frenchman's most-used formations last season. Although Odegaard is unlikely to start in his preferred position of right-wing, he could start as a number ten if Zidane opts to employ a 4-2-3-1.
There are high expectations from Odegaard despite his young age, and his return to his parent club only augurs well for Real Madrid's La Liga title hopes this season and beyond.
