These 5 European heavyweights condemned to a trophyless season
These 5 European heavyweights condemned to a trophyless season In top-level football, the line between triumph and collapse is razor-thin. As spring delivers its final verdicts, several giants already know their fate: their trophy cabinet will stay shut this summer. A year of nothingness.
Between growing pains and the managerial merry-go-round, here’s a look at five major clubs that will finish the season without a single medal. The important thing is to take part... Real Madrid, failure on a grand scale The king of the Champions League has abdicated.
Knocked out on Wednesday night by Bayern in the Champions League quarter-finals, Los Blancos have lost their last hope of silverware. The 2025-26 season has been one of complete upheaval: after Carlo Ancelotti left for the Brazil national team in the summer of 2025, then Xabi Alonso was sacked last January, it is Álvaro Arbeloa who is seeing out the season as the emergency firefighter. Left trailing in La Liga by an imperious Barça, Real are set to finish their first trophyless season since 2021.
Juventus, the Old Lady is left stranded In Italy, the Igor Tudor project was short-lived, ending as early as last October. Under Luciano Spalletti, appointed to steady the ship, Juventus showed some improvement but were starting from too far back. Eliminated from the Coppa Italia in the quarter-finals and knocked out of Europe by Galatasaray (5-7 on aggregate in the play-offs), Juve are now watching Inter Milan pull away toward the title.
A transitional season that weighs heavily in Piedmont. Ajax, an identity crisis This is perhaps the most worrying collapse. Ajax are going through a deep identity crisis.