Editing Real Madrid CF (section)

====''La Décima'' and Champions League dominance====
{{football squad on pitch|align=left|clear=none
| GK = [[Iker Casillas|'''Casillas (C)''']]
| RB = [[Dani Carvajal|'''Carvajal''']]
| LCB = [[Raphaël Varane|'''Varane''']]
| RCB = [[Sergio Ramos|'''Ramos''']]
| LB = [[Fábio Coentrão|'''Coentrão''']]
| RCM = [[Luka Modrić|'''Modrić''']]
| DM = [[Sami Khedira|'''Khedira''']]
| LCM = [[Ángel Di María|'''Di María''']]
| LW = [[Cristiano Ronaldo|'''Ronaldo''']]
| RW = [[Gareth Bale|'''Bale''']]
| CF = [[Karim Benzema|'''Benzema''']]
| caption = [[2014 UEFA Champions League Final]] starting lineup, with a front three of Bale, Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo (dubbed BBC)}}
[[File:Final Champions League 2014 Real Madrid - Atlético de Madrid (14081181609).jpg|thumb|right|250px|Real Madrid players celebrate the club's historic tenth European Cup / Champions League win (''La Décima'') in 2014.]]
On 25 June 2013, [[Carlo Ancelotti]] succeeded Mourinho to become the manager of Real Madrid on a three-year deal, with Zinedine Zidane named as one of his assistants.<ref name="Ancelotti">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23047006 |title=Carlo Ancelotti named Real Madrid boss, Laurent Blanc joins PSG |work=BBC Sport |date=25 June 2013 |access-date=25 September 2013 |archive-date=16 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016223011/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23047006 |url-status=live }}</ref> On 1 September 2013, the long-awaited transfer of [[Gareth Bale]] from [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] was announced. The transfer of the Welshman was reportedly a new world record signing, with the transfer price approximated at €100&nbsp;million.<ref name="realmadrid2">{{cite news|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/gareth-bale-transfer|title=Gareth Bale transfer|date=1 September 2013|work=Daily Mirror|location=London|access-date=1 September 2013|archive-date=26 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826021621/http://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/gareth-bale-transfer|url-status=live}}</ref> In Ancelotti's [[2013–14 Real Madrid CF season|first season at the club]], Real Madrid fought on all three fronts for the continental treble. Despite leading in the [[2013–14 La Liga|league campaign]] on multiple occasions, Madrid ultimately finished in third place (level on points with [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]] and three behind cross-city rivals [[Atlético Madrid]]), collecting 87 points in total and scoring a record 104 goals.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2075051-real-madrid-claims-la-decima-with-champions-league-win-over-atletico-madrid|title=Real Madrid Claims 'La Decima' with Champions League Win over Atletico Madrid|publisher=[[Bleacher Report]]|quote=The four goals for Real Madrid—who led La Liga with 104 goals this season—were the most in a Champions League final since AC Milan defeated FC Barcelona 4-0 in 1994.|date=27 May 2014|access-date=22 October 2022|archive-date=24 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221024171300/https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2075051-real-madrid-claims-la-decima-with-champions-league-win-over-atletico-madrid|url-status=live}}</ref> By that time, ''Los Blancos'' had already secured the [[2013–14 Copa del Rey|Copa del Rey]] – against rivals Barcelona – in April, with Bale scoring the winner.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lowe|first=Sid|title=Real Madrid's Gareth Bale gallops past Barcelona to land Copa del Rey|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/apr/16/barcelona-real-madrid-copa-del-rey-match-report-gareth-bale|access-date=30 April 2014|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|date=16 April 2014|archive-date=15 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190415221346/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/apr/16/barcelona-real-madrid-copa-del-rey-match-report-gareth-bale|url-status=live}}</ref> The major breakthrough came in the [[2013–14 UEFA Champions League|UEFA Champions League]], where Real returned to the [[2014 UEFA Champions League Final|final]] after twelve years, having beaten defending champions Bayern Munich 5–0 on aggregate in the semi-finals.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bayern Munich 0–4 Real Madrid|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27193338|access-date=30 April 2014|work=BBC Sport|date=29 April 2014|archive-date=1 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101121532/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27193338|url-status=live}}</ref> In the final, they defeated then-recently-league winners Atlético Madrid 4–1 [[Overtime (sports)#Association football|a.e.t.]] to clinch their tenth European Cup (first since 2002) and become the first team to win ten European Cups/Champions League titles, an achievement known as "''La Décima''" (Spanish: "The Tenth," {{IPA|es|la ˈðeθima|}}).<ref>{{cite web|title=Real Madrid make history with La Decima|date=26 May 2014|url=http://www.euronews.com/2014/05/26/real-madrid-make-history-with-la-decima/|publisher=euronews.com|access-date=26 May 2014|archive-date=25 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125021920/https://www.euronews.com/2014/05/26/real-madrid-make-history-with-la-decima|url-status=live}}</ref> Real's attacking trio of Bale, Benzema and Cristiano, dubbed the BBC, finished the season with 97 goals.<ref>{{cite news |title=200 goals for the BBC |url=http://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2015/09/200-goals-by-the-bbc |publisher=Real Madrid CF |date=24 October 2015 |access-date=3 December 2021 |archive-date=18 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181118103246/https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2015/09/200-goals-by-the-bbc |url-status=live }}</ref>

After winning the 2014 Champions League, Real Madrid signed goalkeeper [[Keylor Navas]], midfielder [[Toni Kroos]] and attacking midfielder [[James Rodríguez]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.firstpost.com/sports/real-madrid-unleash-new-signings-rodriguez-kroos-super-cup-final-1660463.html|title=Real Madrid to unleash new signings Rodriguez and Kroos in Super Cup|magazine=First Post|access-date=14 August 2014|archive-date=15 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200915053350/https://www.firstpost.com/sports/real-madrid-unleash-new-signings-rodriguez-kroos-super-cup-final-1660463.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In August, Madrid won the [[2014 UEFA Super Cup]] against Sevilla, the club's 79th official trophy.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.marca.com/2014/08/13/futbol/equipos/real_madrid/1407909398.html?cdi=WID33801&s_kw=Noticias_Medio_Tiempo_MX_Noticia5|title=Real Madrid ties with Barcelona in trophies|newspaper=[[Marca (newspaper)|Marca]]|access-date=14 August 2014|archive-date=14 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814102105/http://www.marca.com/2014/08/13/futbol/equipos/real_madrid/1407909398.html?cdi=WID33801&s_kw=Noticias_Medio_Tiempo_MX_Noticia5|url-status=live}}</ref> During the last week of the 2014 summer transfer window, Real Madrid sold two players key to the previous season's successes: [[Xabi Alonso]] to Bayern Munich and [[Ángel Di María]] to Manchester United. This decision by the club was surrounded by controversy, with Cristiano Ronaldo stating, "If I was in charge, maybe I would have done things differently," while Carlo Ancelotti admitted, "We must start again from zero."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://sg.sports.yahoo.com/news/ancelotti-madrid-must-start-again-scratch-135000249.html |title=Ancelotti: Madrid must start again from scratch |work=[[Yahoo! Sports]] |access-date=5 September 2014 |archive-date=5 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140905062158/https://sg.sports.yahoo.com/news/ancelotti-madrid-must-start-again-scratch-135000249.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

After a slow start to the [[2014–15 Real Madrid CF season|2014–15 season]], Real Madrid went on a record-breaking 22-match winning streak, which included wins against Barcelona and [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]], surpassing the previous Spanish record of 18 successive wins set by [[Frank Rijkaard]]'s Barça in the [[2005–06 FC Barcelona season|2005–06 season]].<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30406666 "Real Madrid stretch winning run as Ronaldo and Gareth Bale score"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160106052028/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30406666 |date=6 January 2016 }}. BBC. Retrieved 20 December 2014</ref> In late December, Real Madrid won their first [[2014 FIFA Club World Cup|Club World Cup]], defeating [[San Lorenzo de Almagro|San Lorenzo]] 2–0 in the [[2014 FIFA Club World Cup Final|final]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2014/12/2-0-world-champions|title=2–0: World champions!|date=20 December 2014|publisher=Real Madrid C.F.|access-date=1 August 2022|archive-date=2 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221102150149/https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2014/12/2-0-world-champions|url-status=live}}</ref> The winning streak came to an end in their opening match of 2015 with a loss to Valencia, leaving the club two short of equalling the world record of 24 consecutive wins.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30673410 "Valencia 2 – 1 Real Madrid"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160106075551/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30673410 |date=6 January 2016 }}. BBC. Retrieved 4 January 2015</ref> Madrid was in contention for both the [[2014–15 La Liga|La Liga]] title and the [[2014–15 UEFA Champions League|UEFA Champions League]] until the end but ultimately came up short, finishing with 92 points in the league, two behind treble-winning Barcelona and losing to [[Juventus FC|Juventus]] 2–3 on aggregate in the Champions League semi-finals.<ref>[[2014–15 La Liga]], [[2014–15 UEFA Champions League]]</ref> Ronaldo finished the season scoring 48 league goals, winning his fourth European Golden Shoe, and 61 goals in all competitions, breaking his record from 2011 to 2012.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2465540-comparing-cristiano-ronaldos-201415-stats-to-his-201314-numbers|title = Comparing Cristiano Ronaldo's 2014/15 Stats to His 2013/14 Numbers|website = [[Bleacher Report]]|access-date = 19 May 2022|archive-date = 19 May 2022|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220519135459/https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2465540-comparing-cristiano-ronaldos-201415-stats-to-his-201314-numbers|url-status = live}}</ref> Overall, despite playing an attractive attacking football and being the highest scoring team in Europe with 118 league goals,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2015/06/james-and-bale-la-ligas-top-scoring-midfielders|title=James and Bale, La Liga's top scoring midfielders|quote=Fourteen Madrid players have chipped in to score a record 118 goals with which the team closed out the La Liga campaign.|publisher=Real Madrid CF|date=8 June 2015|access-date=22 October 2022|archive-date=22 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221022170211/https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2015/06/james-and-bale-la-ligas-top-scoring-midfielders|url-status=live}}</ref> several narrow defeats meant that Real finished the season with two trophies out of six possible, which contributed to the dismissal of Carlo Ancelotti on 25 May 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2015/05/florentino-perez-holds-a-press-conference|title=Florentino Pérez holds a press conference|date=25 May 2015|website=Realmadrid.com|access-date=25 May 2015|archive-date=16 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116212359/https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2015/05/florentino-perez-holds-a-press-conference|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="underthecoshblog.com">{{Cite web |url=https://underthecoshblog.com/2016/06/06/real-madrid-201516-season-review/ |title=Real Madrid 2015/16 Season Review: Real Madrid 2015/16 Season Review |access-date=22 October 2022 |archive-date=24 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221024005749/https://underthecoshblog.com/2016/06/06/real-madrid-201516-season-review/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 3 June 2015, [[Rafael Benítez]] was confirmed as the new Real Madrid manager for the [[2015–16 Real Madrid CF season|2015–16 season]], signing a three-year contract.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11835/9873743/rafa-benitez-named-new-coach-of-real-madrid |title=Rafa Benitez named new coach of Real Madrid |work=Sky Sports |date=3 June 2015 |access-date=3 June 2015 |archive-date=13 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181213125935/https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11835/9873743/rafa-benitez-named-new-coach-of-real-madrid |url-status=live }}.</ref> Real Madrid remained unbeaten in the [[2015–16 La Liga|league]] until a 3–2 loss at Sevilla on the matchday 11. This was followed by a 0–4 home loss in the first ''Clásico'' of the season against Barcelona. Perhaps, his reign is best remembered by multiple lopsided wins achieved both in La Liga and the [[2015–16 UEFA Champions League|Champions League]] (6–0 vs [[RCD Espanyol|Espanyol]], 8–0 vs [[Malmö FF|Malmö]], 10–2 vs [[Rayo Vallecano]] and others). In the [[2015–16 Copa del Rey#Round of 32|Copa del Rey round of 32]], Real accidentally fielded an ineligible player in a 3–1 first leg win at [[Cádiz CF|Cádiz]] and was disqualified from the tournament two days later by the competition judge, despite protests from president Pérez.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.marca.com/2015/12/02/futbol/equipos/real_madrid/1449092541.html|title=Alineación indebida de Cheryshev|trans-title=Unlawful Cheryshev appearance|newspaper=Marca|first=José Félix|last=Díaz|language=es|date=2 December 2015|access-date=2 December 2015|archive-date=3 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151203195537/http://www.marca.com/2015/12/02/futbol/equipos/real_madrid/1449092541.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/35001655|title=Real Madrid not told Cheryshev was ineligible, says president|publisher=[[BBC Sport]]|date=4 December 2015|access-date=4 December 2015|archive-date=8 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208120734/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/35001655|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="DQ">{{cite news|url=http://cdn1.sefutbol.com/sites/default/files/sanciones/resolucion_1-16_ida_copa_rey_cadiz-r.madrid.pdf|title=Acuerdos y resolución del Juez de Competición acerca de los 1/16 de final de Copa de SM El Rey|publisher=rfef.es|date=4 December 2015|access-date=4 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151206154836/http://cdn1.sefutbol.com/sites/default/files/sanciones/resolucion_1-16_ida_copa_rey_cadiz-r.madrid.pdf|archive-date=6 December 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> In the meantime, Madrid comfortably topped their [[2015–16 UEFA Champions League group stage#Group A|UCL group]] with 16 points and a +16 goal difference. Benítez was relieved of his duties on 4 January 2016 following allegations of unpopularity with supporters, displeasure with players and a failure to produce good results against top teams.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2016/01/zidane-a-club-legend-in-the-real-madrid-dugout|title=Zidane: a club legend in the Real Madrid dugout|publisher=realmadrid.com|date=4 January 2016|access-date=4 January 2016|archive-date=20 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201120220536/https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2016/01/zidane-a-club-legend-in-the-real-madrid-dugout|url-status=live}}</ref> Benítez's departure was announced along with the promotion of Zinedine Zidane to his first head coaching role.<ref name="Coach Zidane">{{cite web | url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0229-0e930f484246-2c717a89d01b-1000--zidane-replaces-benitez-at-real-madrid/ | title=Zidane replaces Benítez at Real Madrid | website=[[UEFA]] | date=4 January 2016 | access-date=5 January 2016 | archive-date=6 January 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160106214146/http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/newsid=2322281.html | url-status=live }}</ref> Under Zidane, Madrid managed to turn the odds in its favour, ultimately winning the Champions League, something no one expected. The notable results include a 2–1 away victory over reigning treble winners Barcelona, who were on a record-breaking winning streak, a fantastic comeback against [[VfL Wolfsburg|Wolfsburg]] in the Champions League quarter-finals (after losing the away game 0–2, Madrid erased the deficit and won 3–0 at home, courtesy of a Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick), as well as a 12-game winning streak to conclude the league campaign, meaning Real finished second, with 90 points and just one point behind champions Barcelona, coming agonizingly close to clinching the title and overcoming a 12-point deficit in the process.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.skysports.com/la-liga-table/2015|work=Sky Sports|title=2015–16 La Liga Table|date=8 June 2016|access-date=15 June 2017|archive-date=7 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170607012146/http://www.skysports.com/la-liga-table/2015|url-status=live}}</ref> Finally, on 28 May, Real Madrid's eleventh Champions League title was won thanks to a 5–3 penalty shoot-out victory over rivals Atlético Madrid after a 1–1 draw in the [[2016 UEFA Champions League Final|final]], with the achievement being termed "''La Undécima''".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2016/05/1-1-la-undecima-is-ours|title=1–1: La Undécima is ours|publisher=Real Madrid|access-date=28 May 2016|archive-date=31 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160531062956/http://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2016/05/1-1-la-undecima-is-ours|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/022d-0e957c5979eb-37493cb53cd0-1000--spot-on-real-madrid-defeat-atletico-in-final-again/|title=Spot-on Real Madrid defeat Atlético in final again|date=28 May 2016|website=[[UEFA]]|access-date=29 May 2016|archive-date=10 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180110225552/http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2016/matches/round=2000638/match=2015789/postmatch/report/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="underthecoshblog.com"/>

[[File:Felicidades al Real Madrid, campeón de liga (34014774163).jpg|thumb|right|250px|2016–17 La Liga champions Real Madrid celebrate the title with Community of Madrid President [[Cristina Cifuentes]].]]
Real Madrid began their [[2016–17 Real Madrid CF season|2016–17 campaign]], which was to be Zidane's first full season in charge of the club, with a victory in the [[2016 UEFA Super Cup]] against Sevilla.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefasupercup/news/0250-0c5111919148-7ee9946e9786-1000--carvajal-wonder-goal-wins-super-cup-for-madrid/|title=Carvajal wonder goal wins Super Cup for Madrid|date=9 August 2016|website=[[UEFA]]|access-date=15 June 2017|publisher=Union of European Football Associations (UEFA)|archive-date=26 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170726034128/http://www.uefa.com/uefasupercup/season=2016/matches/round=2000778/match=2019261/postmatch/report/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On 10 December 2016, Madrid played their 35th-straight match without a loss, which set a new club record.<ref>{{cite news|title=Real Madrid 3–2 Deportivo de La Coruña|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/38203086|access-date=10 December 2016|archive-date=31 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831091313/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/38203086|url-status=live}}</ref> On 18 December 2016, the club defeated Japanese outfit [[Kashima Antlers]] 4–2 in the [[2016 FIFA Club World Cup Final|final]] of the [[2016 FIFA Club World Cup]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/clubworldcup/matches/round=276112/match=300364984/match-report.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220125922/http://www.fifa.com/clubworldcup/matches/round=276112/match=300364984/match-report.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 December 2016 |title=Madrid see off spirited Kashima in electric extra time final |date=18 December 2016 |access-date=18 December 2016 |publisher=FIFA}}</ref> With a 3–3 draw at Sevilla in the second leg of the [[2016–17 Copa del Rey|Copa del Rey]] round of 16 on 12 January 2017, Madrid progressed to the quarter-finals with a 6–3 aggregate victory and extended its unbeaten run to 40 matches, breaking Barcelona's Spanish record of 39 matches unbeaten in all competitions from the [[2015–16 FC Barcelona season|previous season]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.espnfc.com/real-madrid/story/3037193/real-madrid-break-barcelonas-spanish-record-as-unbeaten-run-reaches-40 |title=Real Madrid break Barcelona's Spanish record as unbeaten run reaches 40 |date=12 January 2017 |access-date=27 May 2017 |publisher=ESPN |archive-date=1 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170801052008/http://www.espnfc.com/real-madrid/story/3037193/real-madrid-break-barcelonas-spanish-record-as-unbeaten-run-reaches-40 |url-status=live }}</ref> Their unbeaten streak ended after a 1–2 away loss against the same opposition in [[2016–17 La Liga|La Liga]] three days later.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.foxsports.com/soccer/story/sevilla-just-snapped-real-madrids-unbeaten-streak-one-match-new-record-011517 |title=Sevilla just snapped Real Madrid's unbeaten streak one match after they set the record |date=15 January 2017 |access-date=27 May 2017 |last=West |first=Aaron |work=Fox Sports |archive-date=13 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170513143527/http://www.foxsports.com/soccer/story/sevilla-just-snapped-real-madrids-unbeaten-streak-one-match-new-record-011517 |url-status=live }}</ref> The team then was knocked out of the Copa del Rey by [[RC Celta de Vigo|Celta Vigo]] 3–4 on aggregate. These slips, however, did not affect the overall trajectory of the season. In May, Madrid won the league title for a record 33rd time, their first title in five years, accumulating 93 points in the process.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/39926301|title=Malaga 0–2 Real Madrid|quote=Real Madrid won their first La Liga title since 2012 thanks to a final-day victory at Malaga.|publisher=BBC.com|date=21 May 2017|access-date=11 February 2018|archive-date=16 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180616191031/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/39926301|url-status=live}}</ref> On 3 June 2017, the club's victory over [[Juventus FC|Juventus]] in the [[2017 UEFA Champions League Final|Champions League final]] resulted in Real Madrid becoming the first team to successfully defend their title in the UEFA Champions League era, and the first to win consecutive titles in the competition since [[A.C. Milan|Milan]] in [[1988–89 European Cup|1989]] and [[1989–90 European Cup|1990]], when the tournament was known as the European Cup.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/jun/03/juventus-real-madrid-champions-league-final-match-report|title=Real Madrid win Champions League as Cristiano Ronaldo double defeats Juve|author=Daniel Taylor|work=The Guardian|date=3 June 2017|access-date=3 June 2017|archive-date=3 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170603205009/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/jun/03/juventus-real-madrid-champions-league-final-match-report|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0250-0c5117c008df-de0901ea6dae-1000--majestic-real-madrid-win-champions-league-in-cardiff/|title=Majestic Real Madrid win Champions League in Cardiff|author=Andrew Haslam|website=[[UEFA]]|date=3 June 2017|access-date=3 June 2017|archive-date=31 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331042605/https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2017/matches/round=2000787/match=2019641/postmatch/report/index.html#majestic+real+madrid+champions+league+cardiff|url-status=live}}</ref> Real Madrid's title was its 12th, extending the record, and its third in four years. The achievement is also known as "''La Duodécima''".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/03/sports/champions-league-final-score.html?_r=0|title=Champions League Final: Real Madrid Confirms Its Spot as World's Best|author1=Das, Andrew|author2=Smith, Rory|newspaper=nytimes.com|date=3 June 2017|access-date=3 June 2017|archive-date=30 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201230230428/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/03/sports/champions-league-final-score.html?_r=0|url-status=live}}</ref> The 2016–17 season was the greatest campaign in terms of trophies won (four out of possible five) in the history of Real Madrid, an achievement that would be later equalled in the [[2017–18 Real Madrid CF season|2017–18 season]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2017/06/the-best-season-in-history|title=The best season in history|last=Leal|first=Antonio M.|website=Realmadrid.com|date=8 June 2017|access-date=9 June 2017|location=Madrid, Spain|quote=Real Madrid won four titles for the first time in their 115-year history.|publisher=Real Madrid Club de Fútbol|archive-date=9 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170609041313/http://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2017/06/the-best-season-in-history|url-status=live}}</ref>

Real kicked off the 2017–18 campaign by winning its second consecutive and fourth overall [[UEFA Super Cup]] in a [[2017 UEFA Super Cup|2–1 victory]] against [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2017/aug/08/real-madrid-v-manchester-united-super-cup-live |title=Real Madrid v Manchester United: Super Cup – as it happened |website=[[The Guardian]] |date=8 August 2017 |access-date=9 August 2017 |archive-date=26 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210426010232/https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2017/aug/08/real-madrid-v-manchester-united-super-cup-live |url-status=live }}</ref> Five days later, Real Madrid beat Barcelona at the [[Camp Nou]] 3–1 in the first leg of the [[2017 Supercopa de España]] and then defeated Barça 2–0 in the return leg, ending their 24 consecutive match scoring record in [[List of El Clásico matches|''El Clásico'' matches]] and winning the second trophy of the season.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/08/16/real-madrid-vs-barcelona-spanish-super-cup-live-score-updates/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/08/16/real-madrid-vs-barcelona-spanish-super-cup-live-score-updates/ |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title= Real Madrid 2 Barcelona 0 (5–1 on aggregate): Woeful Barca dismissed as Zinedine Zidane's unstoppable side win Super Cup|date=17 August 2017|work=Telegraph|access-date=24 August 2017|last1= Bull|first1= J. J.}}{{cbignore}}</ref> On 16 December 2017, Real beat Brazilian club [[Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense|Grêmio]] 1–0 in the [[2017 FIFA Club World Cup|FIFA Club World Cup]] [[2017 FIFA Club World Cup Final|final]] and became the first team to retain the trophy.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/clubworldcup/news/ramos-y-el-madrid-redondean-un-ano-historico-en-emiratos-2925318-2925321|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181223073615/https://www.fifa.com/clubworldcup/news/ramos-y-el-madrid-redondean-un-ano-historico-en-emiratos-2925318-2925321|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 December 2018|title=Ramos and Real make history in the Emirates|work=[[FIFA]]|date=17 December 2017}}</ref> In the [[2017–18 UEFA Champions League]], Madrid once again progressed to the [[2018 UEFA Champions League Final|final]] where they defeated Liverpool 3–1 to become the first club to win three straight titles in the Champions League era, as well as the first team to win three consecutive titles in the European Cup/Champions League since Bayern Munich in [[1975–76 European Cup|1976]]. The trophy also marked Madrid's fourth win in five years and their eighth consecutive semi-finals appearance. On 31 May, only five days after winning the final, Zidane announced his resignation as Real Madrid manager, citing the club's "need for change" as his rationale for departing.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.esquire.com/uk/latest-news/a20973571/zinedine-zidane-announces-his-resignation-from-real-madrid/|title=Zinedine Zidane Announces His Resignation From Real Madrid|date=31 May 2018|work=Esquire|access-date=14 June 2018|language=en-GB|archive-date=11 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210311212221/https://www.esquire.com/uk/latest-news/a20973571/zinedine-zidane-announces-his-resignation-from-real-madrid/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/44315700|title=Zinedine Zidane: Real Madrid boss stands down five days after Champions League win|date=31 May 2018|work=BBC Sport|access-date=14 June 2018|language=en-GB|archive-date=13 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210113121505/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/44315700|url-status=live}}</ref> Zidane's and Ronaldo's departures marked the end of the ''Second Galáctico Era'' that yielded four Champions League titles, two La Liga titles, two Copa del Rey, two Supercopa de España, three UEFA Super Cups, and three FIFA Club World Cup titles. The team was instrumental in ending Barcelona's dominance, despite the ''Blaugrana'' boasting arguably the greatest collection of talent in history,<ref>{{cite web|title=The 21 greatest sides in history have been ranked by football fans|url=https://www.givemesport.com/1558875-the-21-greatest-sides-in-history-have-been-ranked-by-football-fans|website=givemesport.com|date=28 March 2020|access-date=19 July 2022|archive-date=19 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220719102715/https://www.givemesport.com/1558875-the-21-greatest-sides-in-history-have-been-ranked-by-football-fans|url-status=live}}</ref> and overshadowed the Catalans on the European stage.<ref>{{cite web|title=For Real Madrid, Galacticos 2.0 has proven to be more successful than its predecessor|url=https://scroll.in/field/839553/for-real-madrid-galacticos-2-0-has-proven-to-be-more-successful-than-its-predecessor|work=Vyasa Shastry|publisher=scroll.in|date=3 June 2017|access-date=19 July 2022|archive-date=10 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220110115953/https://scroll.in/field/839553/for-real-madrid-galacticos-2-0-has-proven-to-be-more-successful-than-its-predecessor|url-status=live}}</ref> Real Madrid was also somewhat notoriously unlucky in its league campaigns throughout these nine years, finishing runners-up with 96, 92 (twice) and 90 points, as well as on 87 points in third place, just three off the league winners.<ref name="Bleacher Report"/>