The 2013–14 season was the 110th season in Real Madrid's history and their 83rd consecutive season in La Liga, the top division of Spanish football. It covered a period from 1 July 2013 to 30 June 2014, and ended with the club clinching a unique European cup double.
The team competed for a record 33rd La Liga title and entered the UEFA Champions League for the 17th successive season, competing for a record 10th title. They also entered the Copa del Rey in the round of 32. Real Madrid's shirt sponsor for this season was Emirates, having replaced Bwin.com. The club's major signing of the summer window was the long-awaited transfer of Gareth Bale from Tottenham Hotspur for €100 million.
In new manager Carlo Ancelotti's first season at the club, Real Madrid fought on all three fronts for the continental treble. Despite leading in the league standings on multiple occasions, Madrid ultimately finished in third place (level on points with Barcelona and three behind cross-city rivals Atlético Madrid), collecting 87 points in total and scoring a league-high 104 goals. By that time, Los Blancos had already secured the Copa del Rey – against rivals Barcelona – in April, with Bale scoring the winner. The major breakthrough came in the UEFA Champions League, where Real returned to the final after 12 years, having beaten defending champions Bayern Munich 5–0 on aggregate in the semi-finals. In the final, they defeated then-recently-league winners Atlético Madrid 4–1 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". Real's attacking trio of Bale, Benzema and Cristiano, dubbed the BBC, finished the season with 97 goals.
This season was the first since 2005–06 without Argentinian striker Gonzalo Higuaín, who left to join Napoli, and the first since 2009-10 without German midfielder Mesut Özil who departed for Arsenal.
Season overview Pre-season Real Madrid started the summer without a manager, as José Mourinho departed to manage Chelsea. On 25 June, Carlo Ancelotti was officially announced as Real Madrid's new manager for the next three seasons. He appeared for his first press conference in front of the media on 26 June.
On 3 June, Real Madrid announced its first signing of the season by exercising the buyback option for Dani Carvajal from Bayer Leverkusen for €6.5 million.
On 10 June, Real Madrid announced the signing of former youth system loanee Casemiro from São Paulo for €6 million.
On 27 June, Real Madrid announced its first major signing of the season with Isco from Málaga for €30 million.
On 10 July, Real Madrid agreed a contract extension with defender Nacho, keeping him in the club for four more years.
On 11 July, Real Madrid announced the sale of José Callejón to Napoli for €10 million.
On 12 July, Asier Illarramendi from Real Sociedad became the fourth signing for Real Madrid for €32.2 million, penning a six-year deal. He was the fifth player in the first team that won the 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Championship last June with Spain.
On 21 July, Real Madrid began its pre-season campaign against English Second Division side AFC Bournemouth. This was Carlo Ancelotti's first game in charge, with Madrid winning 6–0. Cristiano Ronaldo scored a brace and Sami Khedira, Gonzalo Higuaín, Casemiro and Ángel Di María chipped in the other goals. Real Madrid also announced the sale of Raúl Albiol to Napoli for €11 million.
On 24 July, Real Madrid played its second pre-season match against Lyon, coming from two goals down to draw 2–2 with goals from Casemiro and Álvaro Morata. Madrid also agreed on a contract extension with Jesé which would keep him with at the club for four additional years.
On 25 July, Real Madrid agreed a contract extension with Denis Cheryshev, keeping him with the club for four more years.
On 27 July, Real Madrid faced Paris Saint-Germain, Ancelotti's former club, winning 1–0, with Karim Benzema scoring the lone goal. Also, Real Madrid announced the sale of Gonzalo Higuaín to Napoli for €40 million.
On 1 August, Real Madrid played its first match in the International Champions Cup (ICC) against the LA Galaxy, recording a 3–1 victory with a goal from Ángel Di María and two from Karim Benzema.
On 3 August, Real Madrid faced Everton in the ICC semi-finals, beating them 2–1, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Mesut Özil scoring the goals.
On 7 August, Real Madrid faced Chelsea in the ICC final, led by former manager José Mourinho. Madrid recorded a 3–1 victory, with a brace by Cristiano Ronaldo and a goal from Marcelo capping a balanced team effort for Los Blancos.
On 10 August, Real Madrid played its final pre-season match against Italian squad Inter. Los Merengues got goals from Kaká and Ronaldo and also a Ricky Álvarez own goal in a 3–0 victory.
On 1 September, Madrid reached an agreement for the transfer of Gareth Bale from Tottenham Hotspur for a world record transfer fee of £85.3 million (€100 million).
Concluding the summer transfer window, Real Madrid had signed five players, as well as promoting three more from the youth system. Madrid had spent €165.5 million in the window and generated €108.5 million from sales, resulting in a net loss of €57 million.Real Madrid Summer 2013 Transfer Window Recap – Managing Madrid
August Real Madrid officially kicked off its La Liga campaign on 18 August, playing home to Real Betis. Ancelotti fielded a 4–3–3 formation, while playing a style of attacking football, like that of José Mourinho's tactics. Real Madrid went on to win the match 2–1, with goals from Karim Benzema and debutante Isco, ensuring Ancelotti got off to a winning start.
Madrid's second match of the season – and final match of August – was a 0–1 away win at Granada, where a goal from Benzema ensured the victory for the club.Real Madrid CF | Official Website
September Madrid's third match of the campaign was a 3–1 home win against Athletic Bilbao, with a brace from Isco and a goal from Cristiano Ronaldo sealing the deal for Los Blancos.Real Madrid CF | Official Website
Madrid was unable to progress up the table, recording a 2–2 away draw against Villarreal. Although there were goals from both of Madrid's world record signings, Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo, two goals from Cani and Giovani dos Santos held Real to a draw.Real Madrid CF | Official Website
Madrid's third match of September was the club's opening Champions League away clash with Turkish side Galatasaray. The match turned out to be a goal fest, with Madrid producing six out of the seven goals scored. A hat-trick from Cristiano Ronaldo, two from Benzema and one from Isco ensured the Madrid side a 1–6 victory.Six-goal Madrid overwhelm Galatasaray – UEFA Champions League – News – UEFA.com
In Real's fourth match of September, their fourth match of the Liga campaign, Madrid recorded a 4–1 home win against Getafe, following a brace from Ronaldo, a goal from Pepe and a goal from Isco ensured the Madrid side the victory.Real Madrid CF | Official Website
Los Blancos then travelled away to Elche, coming home with a 1–2 win with two goals from Ronaldo.Real Madrid CF | Official Website
Madrid then faced rivals Atlético Madrid in El Derbi madrileño. A Diego Costa goal in the 11th minute was all that was needed for Atlético, securing a 0–1 win against their rivals.Real Madrid CF | Official Website
October Real Madrid opened October with their second Champions League clash, this time against Danish side Copenhagen at the Santiago Bernabéu. Braces from both Ronaldo and Di María produced the goals for Madrid, who won 4–0.København bow to Madrid and two-goal Ronaldo – UEFA Champions League – News – UEFA.com
Madrid travelled to Levante, recording a 2–3 away win, with goals from Sergio Ramos, Álvaro Morata and Ronaldo, coming back from 2–1 down.Real Madrid CF | Official Website Real Madrid then hosted Málaga in a 2–0 home win, with goals from Di María and Ronaldo.Real Madrid CF | Official Website
Los Blancos then began their third Champions League group clash, this time against Italian side Juventus. Ronaldo opened the scoring, netting in the fourth minute, while Fernando Llorente equalized a mere ten minutes later for Juve, leveling the score at 1–1. A penalty was awarded to Madrid in the 29th minute, which was successfully converted by Ronaldo. The game ended at 2–1 to Madrid.
Real Madrid then travelled away to Barcelona to contest El Clásico. Goals from Neymar and Alexis Sánchez gave the Catalan side the lead, but a stoppage time goal from Jesé after a brilliant solo run by Ronaldo resulted in Barça only holding a one-goal deficit against Madrid.Real Madrid CF | Official Website
Real Madrid then hosted Sevilla, a match which proved to be a ten-goal thriller. A hat-trick from Ronaldo, along with a brace from Bale and Benzema, ensured Los Blancos a deserved 7–3 win.Real Madrid CF | Official Website
November Real Madrid opened November with a tight 2–3 away win against Rayo Vallecano. Two goals from Ronaldo, along with one from Benzema, gave Los Blancos the win.Real Madrid CF | Official Website
Madrid faced Juventus in another Champions League group match, this time away. The game ended 2–2, with goals from Ronaldo and Bale, while Arturo Vidal and Fernando Llorente scored for the Italian side.Juventus fight back to hold Madrid – UEFA Champions League – News – UEFA.com
Real then faced Real Sociedad at the Santiago Bernabéu, with Madrid almost finishing the match in the first half, putting away four goals. The goals before the break included a brace from Ronaldo, one from Benzema and one from Sami Khedira. Ronaldo completed the hat-trick in the second half, with the game ending 5–1 to Real.
Real faced Galatasary again in another Champions League group clash, this time at home, with Madrid winning 4–1. Sergio Ramos got dismissed near to the half-time break, but a consistent Madrid side held on with goals from Bale, Di María, Isco and Álvaro Arbeloa giving the Spanish giants the victory, along with ensuring the Madrid side a place in the knockout phase of the Champions League.Ten-man Madrid make sure of knockout place – UEFA Champions League – News – UEFA.com
On the 27th, defensive midfielder Sami Khedira suffered a season-long injury playing in an international match for Germany against Italy. The injury was described as a "huge shock" from teammate Xabi Alonso.Alonso: Khedira injury a huge shock – Goal.com
November turned out to be a month in which Madrid went undefeated in all competitions, as Real closed November with a 4–0 home win against Real Valladolid, with a hat-trick from Bale and a goal from Benzema ensuring the Madrid side the win.Real Madrid CF | Official Website
December Real Madrid began December against Olímpic de Xàtiva in the Copa del Rey round of 32, with the game ending 0–0.Real Madrid CF | Official Website
Madrid then faced Copenhagen away for their sixth Champions League group match, with the game ending 0–2 to Real. Goals from Luka Modrić and Ronaldo ensured Madrid the win. Ronaldo's goal set the new record for most goals scored in the Champions League group stages, with nine.Record-breaker Ronaldo helps Madrid end on high – UEFA Champions League – News – UEFA.com The match was Madrid's final of the group stage, and they were the only team in their group to progress to the knockout round undefeated.
Los Blancos then faced Osasuna away on the 14th. Madrid were down 2–0 in the first 40 minutes and were reduced to ten men (Sergio Ramos was dismissed at the stroke of half time), but were able to come away with a draw as Isco and Pepe scored to salvage a point.Real Madrid CF | Official Website