Real Madrid travel to England on Monday to face Arsenal in the Champions League on Tuesday. For this high-profile match, Carlo Ancelotti will be without several key players.
Although things seem to be slipping away in La Liga, Real Madrid still have control in both the Champions League and the Copa del Rey. Already qualified for the final of the latter competition, Florentino Pérez’s club will now have to fight to secure a place in the semi-finals of the Champions League, a competition they hold in high regard and one that has often favoured them. This season, Carlo Ancelotti and his players have already managed to eliminate major teams such as Manchester City and Atlético Madrid. For the quarter-finals, which begin next week, with the first-leg matches in particular, it will be Arsenal’s turn to face this Madrid side.
Key absences in the Madrid squad
A few hours before the team’s departure, Carlo Ancelotti already knows which players will be travelling. Unless there are last-minute injuries, the key attacking players will all travel to London. The situation is a bit more critical in midfield, where the players expected to compete physically or at least solidify the midfield are absent. This is the case for Aurélien Tchouaméni, who is suspended for the first leg due to an accumulation of yellow cards.
This is a significant absence, especially as Dani Ceballos, injured for several weeks, will also miss the trip. Despite the efforts of the medical staff and the Spanish player, who was eager to play against his former club, things have not improved fully, according to the Iberian press. In addition to these two key absences, the defence is also a concern, as Ferland Mendy is still not fully recovered. With the further absences of Militão and Carvajal, it can be said that the Madrid squad is weakened in crucial positions.
Real Madrid’s likely XI against Arsenal
To pull off an upset, Carlo Ancelotti will have to rely on players who will play out of their preferred positions. In defence, for example, to solidify the right side of Lucas Vázquez, it will be midfielder Federico Valverde who will need to step up. On the left side, where solidity at the back will be required, the technical staff may consider starting Eduardo Camavinga in that role. As a last resort, David Alaba could be used as left-back in place of Fran García.
If this last option is chosen by Ancelotti, it will be Camavinga who will replace Tchouaméni in a defensive midfield role. Up front, Jude Bellingham will partner with Luka Modrić and will be tasked with supplying the attackers: Vinícius Júnior, who will need to redeem himself after his performance against Valencia on Saturday night; Kylian Mbappé, who needs to confirm his good form; and Rodrygo Goes, who must prove he remains a special player in the Champions League.
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