The below-expected performance of Jude Bellingham and Erling Haaland, the substitution of Nacho Fernández on a key day and the absences of Kyle Walker and Kevin De Bruyne, are key aspects of a first leg match between Real Madrid and Manchester City (3 -3) of those that can be redeemed in the return this Wednesday.
All of them aim to be starters and key in the return in Manchester, a scenario in which last season Real Madrid suffered the toughest defeat of the season (4-0) and that will define one of the four qualifiers in 2024. for the ‘Champions’ semi-finals.
Nacho’s revalidation
The sanction, due to the accumulation of yellow cards, of the Frenchman Aurelien Tchoauméni opens the doors of a ownership that he did not have in the first leg. Ancelotti preferred the Frenchman instead of the captain of the white team despite not being the only centre-back, apart from Antonio Rüdiger, at 100% in the squad.
Saturday’s visit to Mallorca (0-1) seemed like an opportunity to give Éder Militao minutes with a view to improving his chances of having a leading role in Manchester. But he only played the four minutes of injury time, which shows that he is far from his best form after seven and a half months out due to a serious knee injury.
The one who did play the entire game was Nacho Fernández. And with a good note. Solid defense from a Real Madrid that first faced Vedat Muriqi in a Mallorca that finished the game with three forwards -Abdon Prats and Cyle Larin in addition to Muriqi-.
The demand will be greater on Wednesday, on a day that for Nacho will be more than an important match. Ancelotti pointed out on March 30 that the center back has made mistakes during the season – the expulsions against Alavés and Girona, a bad game in the Cup against Atlético de Madrid… – and these made ‘Carletto’ trust Tchoauméni more as a center back in a big game.
Opportunity to compensate for a Nacho who plays more. As the first captain, he will be the one to lift the titles, as he did in the Spanish Super Cup, and the ‘Champions’ – with five already in his record – would be the culmination. Furthermore, his contract ends on June 30, so his continuity is up in the air and may depend on his performance in games like the one in Manchester.
An unknown Haaland
Erling Haaland was in focus in the first leg. His poor performance against Rüdiger last season and facing him again this season made the duel between the two a point of intrigue in the match. And, once again, the German won.
Haaland will have his revenge at an Etihad in which last season, without Rüdiger on top of him – in one of Ancelotti’s controversial decisions for the return -, only an excellent Thibaut Courtois, with two great saves from two shots by the Norwegian, deprived of marking.
However, his team did not need it. 4-0 to Real Madrid; and no goals from Haaland.
The Norwegian will have a new opportunity to make his debut as a scorer against the white team. To do so, he will have to overcome a Rüdiger against whom last Tuesday at the Santiago Bernabéu he only shot once on goal, touched 20 balls and lost half of them. of duels.
Of course, his coach, Pep Guardiola, did not agree with the criticism regarding his forward’s play: “Wasn’t he involved? We scored three goals, but he had two centre-backs nearby… and it’s not easy. It is the most difficult position on the field. It was two against one,” he said.
Bellingham must find itself again
Another footballer who was below his level was the Englishman Jude Bellingham. Furthermore, with a common denominator compared to the previous Champions League match: he acted as a false ‘9’. Far from being that footballer who appeared by surprise at the beginning of the season and who went one goal per game. Until you reach 15.
Since then it has been more difficult for him to see the door. What’s more, he has only three goals – a double against Girona and another against Almería – in all of 2024, in which he has played 13 games and has missed four due to injury and three due to suspension.
Ancelotti’s change of system, placing Vinícius and Rodrygo closer together on the left and advancing Bellingham to the center of the attack did not benefit him, as it did with both Brazilians.
The Englishman has gone through three systems this season at Real Madrid. He went from playing at the top of the midfield diamond at the beginning of the season to acting as a false left winger in a 4-4-2 that Ancelotti later proposed in search of defensive solidity for his team – with success – and, as It happened against Manchester City, playing as a false center forward.
That role did not sit well with a Bellingham team that also looked tired after game time. However, he played 64 minutes on Saturday in Mallorca, with a shot against the crossbar as his main contribution.
On Wednesday, against Manchester City, he will also have his revalidation. The opportunity to reunite with the Jude Bellingham who dazzled with his scoring ability at the beginning of the season and who has been fading.
De Bruyne and Walker, on stage
Manchester City had two key losses at the Santiago Bernabéu: Kyle Walker and Kevin De Bruyne. The first did not enter the squad due to injury. The second was sick at the last minute due to illness. And both are great starters in Pep Guardiola’s starting lineup.
Furthermore, as the coach himself recognized in the press conference prior to the match, Walker’s performance was key in trying to stop Vinícius. And finally, it wasn’t just ‘Vini’. Ancelotti loaded the left side of his attack with Rodrygo to take advantage of the absence of the English right back.
A plan that went perfectly and that he could repeat on his return. Of course, in a game in which Walker is already expected, after returning to the squad on Saturday against Luton Town, although he did not have minutes.
The one who did have them was Kevin De Bruyne. Starter, 81 minutes in his legs and a great performance, showing that he is now fully recovered from the discomfort that prevented him from playing at the Santiago Bernabéu.
The Belgian is a differential footballer at Manchester City. The attacking game of the English team passes through his boots. In the second leg of last season’s semi-finals he scored a double of assists, being one of the best in a match in which Guardiola’s team were far superior.
If there are no setbacks, he will start on Wednesday, instead of Kovacic, in Pep’s preferred midfield: Rodri, De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva. EFE
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