[4] Versatile Turkish midfielder Hamit Altıntop was signed for four seasons on a free transfer from Bayern Munich on 19 May,[5] but was discovered to have a prolapsed disc on 23 June,[6] undergoing a successful operation four days later.

[11] President Florentino Pérez supported Mourinho's request to "be able to manage the team with autonomy"[12] in response to tensions during the previous season's winter transfer window and a public feud regarding Karim Benzema following a 1–1 draw against Almería.

[24] Real Madrid traveled to the UCLA campus in Los Angeles, California, on 11 July to prepare for friendlies against the LA Galaxy, Guadalajara and Philadelphia Union in the World Football Challenge.

[26] On 12 July, the contracts of Pepe and Sergio Ramos were extended to 2016 and 2017, respectively,[27] and Nuri Şahin suffered a Grade I sprain on the internal lateral ligament in his left knee during the first day of training,[28] causing him to miss the entire pre-season.

[30] Real Madrid's pre-season began with a 4–1 victory over Major League Soccer (MLS) team LA Galaxy,[31] with goals from Callejón, Joselu, Cristiano Ronaldo and Benzema.

[32] Four days later in San Diego against Mexican Primera División side Guadalajara, Ronaldo scored a second half hat-trick[33] over a nine-minute span for a 3–0 victory.

[40] Real Madrid started the European leg of their pre-season world tour with a triumph over newly promoted Bundesliga team Hertha BSC on 27 July in front of a sold out Olympiastadion.

[50] On 3 August, Real Madrid defeated Chinese Super League leaders Guangzhou Evergrande 7–1,[51][52] with goals from Sami Khedira, Özil, Benzema twice, Ronaldo, Jesé, and Ángel Di María.

[54] Real Madrid concluded their pre-season world tour with all victories on 6 August,[55] defeating Tianjin Teda 6–0[56] with goals from Kaká, Di María, Gonzalo Higuaín, Ronaldo and a double by Benzema.

[66] Marcelo received a straight red card in stoppage time for a tackle on Cesc Fàbregas, creating an ensuing scuffle between the two sides that led to Mourinho confronting Barcelona assistant coach Tito Vilanova with a poke in the eye[67] and expulsions of Villa and Özil.

[78] Before the match, Real Madrid officially presented their five new summer signings[79] and honored their three youth team players on the Spanish under-19 squad that won the 2011 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship.

[80] Selçuk İnan scored early for Galatasaray from close range, but a pair of assists from man of the match Xabi Alonso[81] to Sergio Ramos and Benzema led Real Madrid to a 2–1 victory in the annual friendly.

[86] On 31 August, the final day of the summer transfer window, Real Madrid loaned out midfielders Pedro León, Fernando Gago and Royston Drenthe.

[100] The injury forced Ronaldo out of the starting lineup against Levante on 18 September,[101] a match Real Madrid lost 1–0 on a second half counterattack goal from Arouna Koné.

[107] Michu scored for the visitors 17 seconds into the match following an intercepted backpass from Lassana Diarra,[108] but goals from Ronaldo and Higuaín lifted Real Madrid to a 2–1 halftime lead.

[124] Despite his recent goalscoring form, Higuaín was dropped from the starting lineup in favor of Benzema for the Champions League match against Olympique Lyonnais three days later.

[169] Three days later Real Madrid defeated Dinamo Zagreb 6–2[170] in their 1,500th official match at the Santiago Bernabéu[171] to clinch top spot in their Champions League group.

[181] Di María finished a low cross from Ronaldo early in the second half,[182] and then Higuaín extended the lead by capitalizing on a defensive error from Diego Godín.

[207] Three days later, Real Madrid began their defense of the Copa del Rey with a 0–2 victory at Segunda División B side Ponferradina in the first leg of the round of 32.

[227] His goal ended Real Madrid's Copa del Rey clean sheet streak at a club record of 616 minutes that began during the previous season.

[230] Defenders Sergio Sánchez and Martín Demichelis converted headers from corners to give Málaga a 2–0 lead,[231] prompting Mourinho to bring on Mesut Özil, Sami Khedira and Karim Benzema at half-time.

[236] Prior to kickoff, Iker Casillas received an award from medical supplier Sanitas for being the healthiest squad member during the past year as voted by fans.

[260] On 12 February, Madrid extended their lead in La Liga to ten points after winning 4–2 at home to Levante, while Barcelona had lost the day before to Osasuna in Pamplona.

The game, played in snowy conditions in Moscow, was led by Madrid for the majority of the match with a goal from Ronaldo, but a last-minute equalizer by Pontus Wernbloom denied the victory for the visitors.

[273] The month started with a 5–2 victory over APOEL in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals on 4 April, giving an aggregate score 8–2 as Los Blancos advanced to the semi-finals against final hosts Bayern Munich.

[277] On 21 April, Real Madrid defeated Barcelona in El Clásico at Camp Nou 1–2, extending their lead in La Liga to seven points with only four matches left, which all but decided the league title.

Madrid completely outplayed Barça's "unbeatable" dream team, neutralizing their tiki-taka style, and put out a statement victory which was widely viewed as a sign of changes in the existing football hierarchy, with Los Blancos overtaking Barcelona as a pre-eminent power both in Spain and Europe.

During penalties, Iker Casillas made two saves but Ronaldo, Kaká and Ramos failed to convert their spot kicks and Madrid lost 3–1, bowing out of the Champions League in a heartbreaking fashion.

Madrid went on to beat Granada away three days later in a dramatic game that saw the home team score early, with Ronaldo equalizing in the 81st minute through a penalty, and Real clinching the victory in injury time, courtesy of an own goal.

[283] Overall, La Liga title was a sufficient consolation for a heartbreak in the Champions League semi-finals against Bayern and earlier defeats to Barça in the Supercopa and Copa del Rey.