Traveling to Real Betis this Saturday for the 26th day of La Liga, Carlo Ancelotti and his players were completely disappointing. Before the clash against Atlético Madrid in the Champions League next Tuesday, two strong choices must be made in the Madrid lineup.
This Saturday, during the 26th day of La Liga, we were expecting a conquering Real Madrid against Real Betis before the rendezvous against Atlético Madrid in the Champions League next week. Instead of showing the good things from recent days, Vinicius Junior and his teammates disappointed with a performance worthy of a bottom-table club. Despite a good start with Brahim Diaz opening the score in the 10th minute, the team set up by Carlo Ancelotti crumbled as the Real Betis players woke up. While the attack didn’t respond, what was even more deplorable was the defense.
David Alaba, the first to forget against Atlético
Weakened by the absences of Jude Bellingham, Federico Valverde, and Dani Ceballos, who had been covering many defensive gaps for weeks, Real Madrid showed its weaknesses this Saturday at the Benito Villamarin. In the match where we had to see if Carlo Ancelotti’s team had the guts to face big teams despite the absence of certain key players, things went sour with the performance of certain players. Speaking of players, David Alaba showed that he was not ready for big matches. Returning from a long injury, the Austrian defender was once again started by Ancelotti against all expectations.
Wanting to see him play a leading role in this second part of the season, the Madrid coach made a mistake by sidelining Raul Asensio, young, fresh, solid, and much more in shape than a David Alaba who no longer has his 20-year-old legs. Against Atlético Madrid next Tuesday in the first leg of the Champions League, the Madrid technical staff must forget about the 32-year-old Austrian defender. Against the colchoneros attackers, things look much tougher for the defense, and therefore, players in shape will be needed.
Lucas Vazquez, the other serious case to address
Another case to address is that of Lucas Vazquez. Returning to the right side of the defense, which has been his since Dani Carvajal’s injury, the Spanish full-back shone little against Real Betis. If we don’t talk much about him after Real Madrid’s defeat this Saturday, it’s because Luka Modric covered his back several times. If we have to dissect Vazquez’s match against Betis attackers, it was a complete failure. Unable to defend, the 33-year-old full-back also didn’t weigh in offensively. If Carlo Ancelotti dares to field him against Atlético, a result different from a defeat would be a real surprise.
To give Real Madrid a chance to have a good match, the Madrid coach must field Federico Valverde, if he is healed from his physical problems, of course, on the right side of the defense. In this case, Luka Modric could play in midfield and dictate the tempo of the game instead of spending all his time covering Lucas Vazquez’s back, who is not really up to expectations.
For the rest of the team, the attackers who have been a bit sleepy will need to be thoroughly shaken. In the absence of Jude Bellingham and Dani Ceballos to play the thankless roles in midfield, Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappé have been very little visible even if the latter tried to help as on Brahim Diaz’s goal. In case of a poor result against the Colchoneros at Santiago Bernabéu next Tuesday, Real Madrid risks not going far in the Champions League this season. It would be a major setback after the exploit against Manchester City.
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