5 reasons Real Madrid will be stronger than last season

Jese - Bale

Across the country in Barcelona, their great rivals clinched a historic treble. At home in the Spanish capital, they were consistently overcome by their neighbours, Atletico Madrid. In two league meetings, they were blunted by Valencia. And in Europe, their campaign was brought to a halt by Juventus. 

For Real Madrid, a season that started so promisingly was derailed by an archenemy, fellow heavyweights and a re-emerging Spanish power in the east.

Consequently, change has come to the Bernabeu this summer, Rafa Benitez replacing Carlo Ancelotti as manager as Real Madrid look to reverse their fortunes.

But how optimistic can the club be as it seeks to bring down a rampant Barcelona? Are there reasons to believe Los Blancos can be stronger this season than they were last?

Across the following slides, we try to find five such reasons.

Enhanced Squad Depth

Lucas Vazquez

A major issue for Real Madrid at the back end of last season was the absence of a capable and healthy supporting cast to complement the team's major stars.

Both Sami Khedira and Fabio Coentrao battled with injury, Lucas Silva didn't make the grade, Alvaro Arbeloa was ineffective and Asier Illarramendi, Javier Hernandez and Jese didn't appear to hold the trust of Carlo Ancelotti.

As a result, Real Madrid had few options to turn to as injuries and fatigue hit, their season grinding to a halt after January.

Now, however, the situation looks different. Denis Cheryshev has been recalled from Villarreal, Lucas Vazquez has been bought back from Espanyol, Casemiro has returned from Porto, Danilo will back up Daniel Carvajal (or vice versa) at right-back and Jese looks set for a more prominent role under the new manager.

Naturally, Benitez will have his hands full juggling playing time, and positional battles such as the one between Danilo and Carvajal will cause a few headaches. But overall, Madrid's supporting cast looks significantly stronger, giving a manager renowned for his love of rotation countless options when configuring his XI. 

Improved Balance in Midfield

Casemiro

It was a problem first exploited by Real Sociedad last August and never truly rectified: Real Madrid's midfield in 2014-15 lacked strength, power and grit. Balance, essentially.

Though Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, James Rodriguez and Isco gave Ancelotti perhaps the most gifted and attacking midfield ensemble in Europe, it was a recipe that was all too precarious, the margins too fine. The midfield needed a proper anchor, not just a converted one.

This season, though, Benitez is likely to address that lack of balance.

In the manager's 4-2-3-1, Kroos in particular should benefit from operating as one half of a holding duo rather than covering those duties on his own. Additionally, Benitez will likely turn to the defensive talents of Casemiro (and maybe Asier Illarramendi) in games against heavyweight opposition that will require a greater two-way commitment in midfield.

Casemiro is exactly what Real Madrid need: a gritty, physical ball-winner prepared to get his hands dirty and set a platform for those ahead of him.

Stability Within the Squad This Summer

Sergio Ramos

You have to remember the concept of relativity here.

So far this summer, Real Madrid have discarded club icon Iker Casillas, signed a goalkeeper they might not need in Kiko Casilla, addressed a problem that didn't really exist with the purchase of Danilo, recalled Casemiro, whose non-EU status means the recently signed Lucas Silva has to go, and they have been engulfed in long-running sagas involving Sergio Ramos and David De Gea.

And yet, for Real Madrid, that constitutes a pretty quiet summer. Remarkable, huh?

The thing is, though, this time around the club hasn't dismantled its core, instead retaining its spine and key personnel while making more peripheral adjustments.

There have been no Angel Di Maria and Xabi Alonso-style exits—no arrivals demanding full-scale overhauls of the XI.

As such, Real Madrid head into a new campaign with a calming (relative) sense of familiarity within the squad.

Gareth Bale Is Past the Dreaded 2nd Season

Gareth Bale

The second-season syndrome is a thing, isn't it? A real disease, yeah? It just has to be. After all, there's a Wikipedia page for it. Steve Bruce says it exists too, and Steve Bruce has always felt like the kind of guy who'd sit you down in a pub corner and tell you all the world's truths.

Anyway, what other than the second-season syndrome can explain Gareth Bale's journey from barnstorming Brit aboard and cup-final hero to bombarded Brit abroad and ponytailed target for whistles?

He was fitter last season than he was during his first. More accustomed to Spain. More comfortable with his new club. And skills don't just disappear. So what was it?

Some will say it was the haircut, but it must have been the curse of the second season, mustn't it?

The good news: He's past that now.

A Team with a Point to Prove Is Always a Dangerous Team

Real Madrid

On December 20 last year, Real Madrid lifted the Club World Cup to claim their fourth title in 12 months and cap off a blistering, record-breaking stretch.

But what followed? Loss, loss, loss.

Admittedly, one was a friendly against AC Milan (and injuries took a toll), but you get the picture: After scaling the mountain, after taking all before them, Real Madrid seemed to exhale at that moment, losing their edge, losing their momentum, their hunger perhaps temporarily satisfied.

Frankly, it all unravelled from there.

It's why defending titles is so difficult: The physical and mental cost of triumph is immense, and at the end of it, the chasing pack want it more.

Now, though, Real Madrid are part of that chasing pack.

Indeed, with Barcelona snatching everything away—the UEFA Super Cup most recently—Los Blancos now have much to prove. They're the hunters, not the hunted.

Teams in such a situation are always dangerous.

source: bleacherreport.com

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