After Sunday’s narrow victory over Alavés in La Liga, Real Madrid are set to face Arsenal in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final. For this match, Carlo Ancelotti is believed to have already made a big decision regarding his midfield.
Heavily beaten 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium, the Madrid side will need to produce a stunning performance to stay in the Champions League. With an incredible strength of character that has often led to spectacular miracles in the competition, Real Madrid will attempt to make history by overturning the Gunners at the Santiago Bernabéu on Wednesday night. For this major clash, which the club is meticulously preparing for, Carlo Ancelotti must make changes and field a team capable of playing proper football.
Dani Ceballos: the player who could change everything?
When it comes to decisions, the Madrid coach has a lot to consider in midfield. While he could make adjustments in attack – with Brahim Díaz possibly replacing Rodrygo Goes, who has been struggling in recent weeks – Carlo Ancelotti might also choose to start Dani Ceballos on Wednesday. Having returned from injury earlier than expected, the Spanish midfielder played a few minutes against Alavés. In just five minutes on the pitch, the former Arsenal man completed two dribbles and won a foul.
As Davide Ancelotti, Carlo’s son and assistant, confirmed in a press conference after the Alavés match, Ceballos is back to 100% and feels ready for Wednesday’s clash. As such, it would be more than wise to start the playmaker in midfield alongside Aurélien Tchouaméni and Jude Bellingham. With a playing style similar to that of Toni Kroos, the 28-year-old – who is enjoying a fine season with Real Madrid – could simply change the course of the game with his passing and vision.
“The plan with Ceballos is for him to start in the Cup final,” said journalist Tomás Roncero on La SER after the Alavés match. But given the crucial nature of the match against Arsenal, Carlo Ancelotti would be well advised to start the former Real Betis man.
What is key for Real next Wednesday is to keep possession longer and exploit the gaps in the English defence, which is far from unbeatable. “We need players who give 200%, we need devoted fans who believe like we do. We’re waiting for you this Wednesday, because we need you more than ever,” Ceballos said to Madrid fans following his return to action on Sunday evening.
Leave a Reply