Success has always come naturally to Real Madrid.

That’s why the past year has been so difficult for arguably the biggest club in the world. 2020/21 was the first season in 11 in which Los Blancos failed to collect any silverware.

Flat, fatigued, uninspiring – last season’s men in white were the opposite of everything we know of Real Madrid.

Going forward, only Karim Benzema offered some sort of light at the end of a dark tunnel; most of his fellow experienced heads like Isco and Eden Hazard fell by the wayside while former favourite Gareth Bale wasn’t even afforded a place in the squad, having spent last campaign on loan at Tottenham.

An all-round dreary performance left the Spanish giants looking dejected and, as a result, stifled the explosiveness of the side’s young guns like Vinicius Junior.

But, with Zinedine Zidane’s departure and Carlo Ancelotti’s arrival, things look different.

The man who oversaw Isco’s growth into a creative force for Los Blancos and the world-record acquisition of Bale has returned – and has visibly reignited those whose flames had seemingly gone out.

With an added invigoration, intensity and je ne sais quoi, Real Madrid find themselves top of La Liga after three games, showing signs of attacking flair and decisiveness as well as defensive solidity – although it must be noted that we’re still yet to properly see the two come together in perfect harmony.

That’s not to detract from the huge signs of promise in Los Blancos‘ start to the season, however.

Benzema’s talismanic burden of responsibility has been lessened by an Hazard seemingly ready to show that unpredictably tricky game of his, while Bale, with the trust of Ancelotti, will continue his reintegration into the side – all of which has given a lift to the gifted Vinicius, who has started the campaign in scintillating form.

Meanwhile, Isco looks a different player with Ancelotti’s backing and has given us glimpses of the match-dictating creativity and silky smooth dribbling that he made his name with.

And alongside the dynamism of Federico Valverde, the pair – who have been given an uninterrupted due to the campaign by the absence of both Luka Modric and Toni Kroos – have introduced a drive and creative lift from midfield that just lacked last season; something that will only aid the development and adjustment of new signing and prodigal talent Eduardo Camavinga.

With the previously pedestrian members of that ‚old guard‘ stepping up, there’s a visible new-found confidence and metal within the Real squad and, while Ancelotti may have a work in progress on his hands, it’s clearly a side with a different mindset who are ready to push on collectively.

With the continuation of that growing mentality and performances from those old boys and the resulting undying enthusiasm from the Los Blancos youngsters, Real Madrid could be in for some silverware once more.