The 8 clubs unbeaten against Real Madrid

After the two-legged tie against Arsenal in the Champions League quarter-finals, Real Madrid have failed to reduce the list of clubs they have never beaten in their history.

Throughout their long and triumphant history, Real Madrid have established themselves as one of the giants of world football. But this season, Carlo Ancelotti and his players have been disappointing. Whether it’s Liverpool, Lille or even Barcelona, Los Blancos have been caught off guard. The latest setback came on Wednesday night, in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals against the Gunners. Even titans encounter obstacles from time to time, and certain opponents have managed to resist the dominance of Los Merengues, earning a place on a very exclusive list: the eight teams who remain unbeaten against Real Madrid.

Arsenal, Boca Juniors, Corinthians and others

The mood in Madrid is gloomy. The Champions League exit at the hands of Arsenal has left its mark. And the blow is all the harder to take considering Real have never beaten the Gunners in four meetings. In the 2006 round of 16 (a 1-0 loss and a 0-0 draw) and again recently in the quarters (a 3-0 defeat in London followed by a 2-1 loss at home), Arsenal remain the puzzle Los Blancos have yet to solve. But the London club is not alone in this exclusive group.

• Argentine side Boca Juniors also feature on this list, thanks to their 2-1 victory over Madrid in the 2000 Intercontinental Cup final. A brace from Palermo was enough to shatter Real’s hopes.

• Brazilian club Corinthians faced Madrid during the 2000 FIFA Club World Cup. That match ended in a 2-2 draw, denying Madrid the upper hand. Similarly, Mexican club Necaxa won on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the same competition.

• Aberdeen, under the leadership of a young Alex Ferguson, defeated Real in the final of the 1983 Cup Winners’ Cup. A 2-1 victory in extra time that remains a historic moment for Scottish football.

• Modest English club Ipswich Town were unfazed. In the 1973–74 UEFA Cup, Madrid lost 1-0 in the first leg and could only manage a 0-0 draw in the return fixture.

• Even in Spain, one team managed to break the myth. CD Toledo, a small Castilian club, knocked Madrid out of the Copa del Rey in 2000 with a 2-1 win.

• Finally, Lille are the most recent team to join this group. In this season’s Champions League, the French side claimed a 1-0 home win thanks to a penalty from Jonathan David.

These eight teams represent a curious anomaly in Real Madrid’s golden history. They serve as a reminder that even giants have their vulnerabilities. And perhaps, for the fans of these clubs, being unbeaten against Madrid is a victory in itself — a badge of honour in the world of football.