Madrid vs. Manchester City Champions League Squad: Ancelotti Adjusts Strategically
Real Madrid is in a bind heading to Manchester City for their Champions League playoffs first leg, with their defensive options severely limited by injuries. The Italian coach, Carlo Ancelotti, will only have one senior, natural defender available, forcing him to get creative.
Eder Militao, Toni Rudiger, and David Alaba are all on the sidelines, leaving Aurelien Tchouameni and young sensation Raul Asencio as the primary center-back pairing. Lucas Vazquez, who picked up a niggle in the derby against Atletico Madrid, is also out, leading to Fede Valverde being moved to right back.
Manchester City's winger Savinho shared Ancelotti's sentiment that neither team should have to compete in a playoff to reach the last 16. Ancelotti agreed, stating, "It’s a bit surprising that we play in a playoff. It’s not UEFA’s fault, it’s our fault, but it’s a bit surprising."
Despite their current standing in the Premier League and some losses on the continent, Ancelotti sees no weakness in City. He praised Pep Guardiola's attack-oriented style and called him one of the best coaches in the game.
Real Madrid's attack, however, remains strong. Thibaut Courtois will be in goal, with Dani Ceballos, Eduardo Camavinga, and Jude Bellingham making up the midfield. On the wings, Rodrygo, currently in exceptional form, and Vinicius Jr., rumored to be in talks with Paris Saint-Germain, will flank Kylian Mbappe.
Given the extensive injury list, Real Madrid's defensive strategy will be crucial in this critical match. The likes of Jesus Vallejo and Raul Asencio could feature, while midfielders like Federico Valverde and Orlén Chamari might need to pitch in defensively.
Enrichment Data:
- Lucas Vázquez: Expected to return against Real Betis on March 2, with a hamstring injury.
- David Alaba: Expected to miss the rest of February with an adductor muscle injury.
- Dani Carvajal: Out for the season due to a knee injury.
- Eder Militão: Expected to be unavailable until the end of the term due to a second ACL injury.
- Antonio Rüdiger: Expected to miss the rest of February with a thigh injury.
These injuries leave Real Madrid with limited defensive options. Jesus Vallejo, Raul Asencio, Aurelien Tchouameni, Federico Valverde, and Orlén Chamari are potential fill-ins, although their lack of defensive experience could prove challenging.
Vinicius Jr.'s potential move to Paris Saint-Germain adds an extra layer of intrigue to Real Madrid's Champions League tie against Manchester City. Savinho, Manchester City's winger, expressed his disapproval of the playoffs, echoing Carlo Ancelotti's sentiments. Despite Manchester City's standing in the Premier League and some losses on the continent, Ancelotti highly regards Pep Guardiola's coaching abilities.
With injuries to key defenders like Eder Militão, Toni Rudiger, David Alaba, and Dani Carvajal, Real Madrid's defense will be tested in this critical match. Rodrigo, in exceptional form, and Vinicius Jr., rumored to be in talks with PSG, will provide a strong attacking force alongside Kylian Mbappe. To compensate for the defensive injuries, midfielders like Federico Valverde and Orlén Chamari might need to contribute defensively, while Jesus Vallejo, Raul Asencio, and Aurelien Tchouameni could be called upon to fill in at the back.
