Pre-season After
Zinedine Zidane's departure, Madrid announced on 12 June 2018, that
Julen Lopetegui would take over the head coaching position. On 22 June 2018, Madrid announced their first signing of the season, adding
Andriy Lunin to the squad. On 5 July 2018, Madrid signed
Álvaro Odriozola. Five days later, Madrid agreed to sell
Cristiano Ronaldo to
Juventus for €117 million.
Thibaut Courtois joined Madrid on 8 August 2018 from
Chelsea, while
Mateo Kovačić moved to Chelsea on loan.
August The season started on 15 August, with the
2018 UEFA Super Cup against
Atlético Madrid. The game was lost 2–4 after extra time.
Karim Benzema and
Sergio Ramos gave Madrid the 2–1 lead which was cancelled out late in the second half. It was Real's first European finals loss after nine consecutive wins. The new
La Liga season started with a 2–0 victory against
Getafe four days later, with goals from
Dani Carvajal and
Gareth Bale. Against
Girona, Madrid came out with a 4–1 victory from behind, with a brace from Benzema and goals from Ramos and Bale. On 29 August 2018,
Mariano Díaz returned to Madrid.
September On the first day of the new month, a brace from Benzema and goals from Bale and Ramos secured Madrid three points in a 4–1 win over
Leganés. The away game at
Athletic Bilbao, on 15 September 2018, ended in a 1–1 draw with the lone goal coming from
Isco. Four days later, in the first match of the
2018–19 UEFA Champions League group stage, Madrid defeated
Roma 3–0 after goals from Bale, Isco and Mariano.
Marco Asensio scored the lone goal in a 1–0 win over
RCD Espanyol, just three days later. The first defeat of the league season came on 26 September 2018, against
Sevilla, with Real losing 0–3. In the first league
Madrid derby against Atlético, the match ended in a goalless draw three days later.
October in an away
Champions League group stage game against
CSKA Moscow, with the left sleeve of his shirt prominently featuring an updated UCL
multiple-winner badge, courtesy of Madrid's triumph in the
2018 edition On 2 October 2018, the Champions League match at
CSKA Moscow ended in a 0–1 loss. Four days later, against
Deportivo Alavés, Madrid lost 0–1 again. Their next game was a 1–2 loss against
Levante UD on 20 October 2018, with the lone goal coming from
Marcelo. The Champions League match against
Viktoria Plzeň three days later ended with a 2–1 win with goals from Benzema and Marcelo. Five days later,
El Clásico was lost 1–5, with the goal coming from Marcelo. It was Madrid's biggest away defeat to Barcelona since 0–5 in
2010. On 29 October 2018, Lopetegui was sacked and replaced by interim coach
Santiago Solari. On the last day of the month, Madrid took on
UD Melilla in the
Copa del Rey round of 32 first leg and won 4–0 after goals from Benzema, Asensio, Odriozola and
Cristo González.
November On 3 November 2018, late goals from
Vinícius Júnior and Ramos gave Madrid a 2–0 victory over
Real Valladolid. Four days later, the return game at Viktoria Plzeň in the Champions League ended with a 5–0 win, Benzema scored a brace and Bale,
Casemiro and
Toni Kroos each added one goal. Madrid defeated
Celta Vigo 4–2 on 11 November 2018, after goals from Benzema, Ramos,
Dani Ceballos and an own goal. Solari was upgraded to a full-time head coach on 13 November 2018, after signing a contract through 2021. The away game at
SD Eibar on 24 November 2018 was lost 0–3. Three days later, the Champions League match at Roma was won 2–0 by goals from Bale and
Lucas Vázquez. With that win, Madrid advanced to the
knockout stage.
December On the first day of the month, an own goal and a goal from Vázquez secured Madrid three points with a 2–0 win over
Valencia CF. The return leg of the Copa del Rey round of 32 tie against Melilla on 6 December 2018 was won 6–1, giving Madrid a 10–1 victory on aggregate. Asensio and Isco scored a brace each, with the remaining goals coming from Vinícius and
Javi Sánchez. Three days later, a Bale goal gave Real a 1–0 victory over
SD Huesca. On 12 December 2018, Madrid suffered a 0–3 loss against CSKA Moscow on the last matchday of the Champions League group stage. A lone goal by Benzema helped Madrid to win 1–0 against
Rayo Vallecano on 15 December 2018. On 19 December 2018, the semi-final of the
2018 FIFA Club World Cup was won 3–1 against
Kashima Antlers with a hat-trick from Bale. Three days later, Madrid defeated
Al-Ain 4–1 in the
final after goals from
Luka Modrić,
Marcos Llorente, Ramos and an own goal.
January In the first game of the new year on 3 January 2019, Madrid drew
Villarreal 2–2 with goals from Benzema and
Raphaël Varane. Three days later, the match against
Real Sociedad was lost 0–2. On 6 January 2019, Madrid announced the signing of
Brahim Díaz. Goals from Ramos, Vázquez and Vinícius gave Madrid a 3–0 first leg win against Leganés on 9 January 2019 in the Copa del Rey round of 16. On 13 January 2019, a late goal from Ceballos gave Madrid a 2–1 away win against
Real Betis after Modrić scored the other goal. Despite a 0–1 loss in the second leg three days later, an aggregate 3–1 victory over Leganés secured Madrid a place in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey.
Kiko Casilla joined
Leeds United on 17 January 2019. Two days later, Madrid defeated Sevilla 2–0 with goals from Casemiro and Modrić. A brace from Ramos and goals by Vázquez and Benzema helped Madrid to get a 4–2 first leg home victory over Girona in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals of on 24 January. Three days later, Real recorded another 4–2 victory, this time over Espanyol, with two goals from Benzema and goals from Ramos and Bale. On 31 January, Madrid defeated Girona 3–1 away from home to close out the month and progress to the Copa del Rey semi-finals with a 7–3 aggregate victory. Benzema scored a brace and
Llorente added another goal.
February On 3 February, Madrid won 3–0 against Alavés after goals from Benzema, Vinicius and Mariano. The first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-finals against Barcelona on 6 February ended with a 1–1 draw after Vázquez initially gave Madrid the lead. Three days later, Real won the derby against Atlético 3–1 after goals from Casemiro, Ramos and Bale to move up to the second place. In the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 against
AFC Ajax on 13 February, Madrid came away with a 2–1 victory, with Benzema and Asensio scoring the goals. Four days later, Girona defeated Madrid with a score of 2–1, with the lone goal coming from Casemiro. The result meant Atlético had again overtaken Real for the second place. A 2–1 victory over Levante was recorded on 24 February, after goals from Benzema and Bale, both being penalties. Three days later, Madrid was knocked out of the Copa del Rey by Barcelona after a 0–3 second leg defeat, resulting in a 1–4 aggregate loss.
March The league Clásico took place on 2 March and was lost 0–1. Three days later, Madrid suffered a 1–4 home defeat in the return leg of the Champions League round of 16 against Ajax and was eliminated 3–5 on aggregate to end their 3–year European reign. On 10 March, the game against Valladolid was won 4–1 after a brace from Benzema and goals from Varane and Modrić. Zidane returned as the head coach the next day while Solari was sacked. On 16 March, Celta Vigo was defeated 2–0 with goals from Isco and Bale. On the last day of the month, goals from Isco, Ceballos and a late one from Benzema secured Madrid three points in a 3–2 win over Huesca.
April On 3 April, the away game at Valencia was lost 1–2, with the lone goal coming from Benzema in added time. Three days later, a brace from Benzema secured Madrid a 2–1 win over Eibar. On 15 April, Madrid got a 1–1 draw at Leganés with a goal from Benzema. A hat-trick from Benzema secured Madrid a 3–0 win over Athletic Bilbao on 21 April 2019. On 25 April, Madrid was held to a scoreless draw at Getafe. Three days later, the away game at Vallecano was lost 0–1.
May On 5 May, Madrid defeated Villarreal 3–2 with a brace from Mariano and a goal from
Jesús Vallejo. A week later, the away game at Real Sociedad was lost 1–3, with the lone goal coming from Brahim Díaz. With that result, Real Madrid was confirmed to finish no higher than third in the league standings. The last game of the season was lost 0–2 at home to Real Betis on 19 May 2019, marking an end to a disastrous campaign. Real finished the season with the worst points total since
2001–02 and worst goal difference since
1999–2000. A day later, Kroos signed a new contract until 2023. ==Players==