Falling short: Why a sextuple is beyond Real Madrid’s reach | OneFootball

Despite winning the Intercontinental Cup last night, Real Madrid’s hopes of achieving a sextuple this year are no longer possible.

After their victory against Pachuca, they end 2024 with five titles in their trophy collection: the Spanish Super Cup in January, La Liga and the Champions League in May, the European Super Cup in August, and the Intercontinental Cup in December.

As with any season in which a club secures numerous titles, there is always a buzz about the possibility of completing a treble or even a sextuple.

While there is no strict definition, the term “sextuple” has generally been understood to mean winning six of the most prestigious titles in a single calendar year. However, there have been some changes in the football landscape that affect this definition.

Changes in the formats

Real Madrid cannot win a sextuple this year. (Photo courtesy: Real Madrid official website)

Firstly, the Spanish Super Cup, traditionally held in August, has now been moved to January the following year. This shift means that the six-title accomplishment can no longer be defined strictly by the calendar year.

Additionally, the return of the Intercontinental Cup, alongside the new format of the Club World Cup, introduces another layer of complexity, as it now adds an extra title to the equation, potentially bringing the total number of titles a team can win to seven.

Despite these changes, the general consensus remains that to achieve a sextuple, a team must win La Liga, the Copa del Rey, the Spanish Super Cup, the Champions League, the European Super Cup, and this year’s Intercontinental Cup.

Given these criteria, it is clear that Real Madrid’s quest for a sextuple is over for this season, as they were eliminated from the Copa del Rey by Atletico Madrid earlier this year.

To date, only two teams in history have managed to win the sextuple: Guardiola’s Barcelona in 2009 and Bayern Munich in 2020. While Real Madrid have had an incredibly successful year, they will have to wait for another chance to chase the elusive sextuple.