After the great victory against Girona in La Liga this Saturday, Real Madrid will travel to the Gewiss Stadium to face Atalanta Bergamo in the Champions League. For this duel, Carlo Ancelotti and his men are in great danger. Here’s why!
The Champions League is Real Madrid’s best hunting ground. In Europe and worldwide, the White club is known for its phenomenal history with this major UEFA club competition, the biggest in the world. Champions in title after last season’s victory against Borussia Dortmund, Carlo Ancelotti’s team is struggling this season. Against all odds, Kylian Mbappé’s new club keeps negatively surprising in the competition’s new format.
Currently 24th, on the verge of elimination, the Madrid players will try to stay alive against Atalanta this Tuesday. For this major encounter, part of the 6th day of the regular phase of the Champions League, Carlo Ancelotti and his men can no longer be considered the favourites. Indeed, more than three months after the last meeting between the two clubs in the UEFA Super Cup, which ended in favour of Real Madrid, the situation has completely changed.
The factors working against Real Madrid
Despite being the biggest club in the world, Real Madrid is not in a good phase. Weeks after the 2-0 victory against the Italians in the Super Cup, many things have changed. For example, in defence, Dani Carvajal, who played an important role on his side by stopping the very dangerous Ademola Lookman, is no longer available to ensure coverage. Out for the rest of the season, like Éder Militão, who has been perfectly replaced by young Raúl Asensio in central defence, Carvajal leaves the right flank to Lucas Vázquez, who struggles against skilled dribblers.
As seen against Dortmund (where young Bittens gave him trouble), Barça, Liverpool, and recently Athletic Bilbao, Lucas Vázquez is far from reassuring. Against Atalanta Bergamo’s Nigerian forward, the task looks very tough. Still, regarding defence, Ferland Mendy’s absence is a problem because, even though Fran García performs well in La Liga, he has shown many weaknesses in big matches.
In attack, it is uncertain what shape Rodrygo Goes will be in, given his numerous physical issues in recent weeks. To top it all off, there is concern about Vinicius Junior, who has been absent from the pitch for several matches. Struck behind the thigh, the Brazilian prodigy, who significantly contributes to the team’s play, has returned to group training, but Carlo Ancelotti has not confirmed his presence for Tuesday’s match. With all these uncertainties, Real Madrid heads to Bergamo in great danger, where it is currently “hot”.
The brilliant form of Gasperini’s men
Yes, despite the winter season, Atalanta Bergamo is on fire. Since a defeat against Como in Serie A on 24th September, Gian Piero Gasperini’s team has not lost a single match. In 14 games, Real Madrid’s next opponent has recorded 12 victories, including notable ones against Napoli, Roma, and AC Milan last Friday. Currently leading the Italian championship, the Bergamo team is also in fifth place in the regular season of the Champions League.
Well-positioned to secure a spot in the top 8, directly qualifying for the round of 16, La Dea will do everything to dominate the Madrid side, who are showing very little in terms of play. With a young team led by Odilon Kossounou, Juan Cuadrado, Charles De Ketelaere, currently in great form, or even Ademola Lookman, Atalanta has everything it needs to dominate Real, who have lost all their big games this season, except for a monumental feat against Dortmund, led by Vinicius Junior.
If the Brazilian player misses Tuesday’s game, it will require a true team effort (which has been lacking this season) to see Real Madrid return from Bergamo with a good result.
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