Real Madrid will travel to Real Sociedad on Wednesday for the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-finals. For this match, Carlo Ancelotti is expected to make a big decision and start a player who has been making headlines lately.
No rest for Real Madrid. Engaged in multiple competitions this season, Carlo Ancelotti and his players have been playing matches every three days since the start of 2025. After the 25th matchday of La Liga on Sunday evening against Girona, the Madrid team will head to the Real Sociedad pitch on Wednesday to play the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final. On Monday, the players were at Valdebebas fine-tuning their preparations for this crucial match. While there are expected to be only a few player changes in the starting XI for this difficult match, the Madrid coach is likely to give Arda Güler, who has been struggling, another chance.
Why does Arda Güler need to play against Sociedad?
For the past five matches, the Turkish player has not had a single minute of play. Once again important in the team’s rotation, Arda Güler has lost his place since the return of Brahim Diaz and Rodrygo Goes. In 2025, the former Fenerbahçe wonderkid has only had significant playing time in the Copa del Rey. In fact, his last appearance on the field was in the quarter-finals of the competition against Leganés. Very little visible during that match, the 19-year-old attacking midfielder lost some of his shine in front of Carlo Ancelotti.
However, on Wednesday, Güler must play football again. While the Madrid coach may not see him as a key player at the moment, the Turkish international should be given the opportunity to make an impact once again. Knowing that places in La Liga and the Champions League are highly coveted, one cannot deny the 19-year-old star the chance to play in the Copa del Rey. Even though it’s a semi-final, the Turkish favourite deserves to play, as he remains, despite everything, a player full of talent.
Without playing time, Arda Güler will lose his rhythm for good and risk sinking further into a negative spiral. In recent days, Turkish observers have raised their voices, urging their young star to leave Real Madrid at the end of the season to express himself as he should. If Carlo Ancelotti does not start the player that all the Madrid press are calling “lost” next Wednesday in the Copa del Rey semi-final, we will surely see the crisis escalate. It will be an awkward situation that will be of no benefit to anyone.
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