Fresh from a major victory against Manchester City in the first leg of the Champions League play-offs on Tuesday (3-2), Carlo Ancelotti and Real Madrid are set to play the return leg at the Santiago Bernabéu next Wednesday. Ahead of this crucial clash, some excellent news has emerged.
Recognised as a true specialist in the Champions League, Real Madrid once again delivered a legendary performance on Tuesday night. Travelling to the Etihad Stadium to face Manchester City in the first leg of the play-offs, Carlo Ancelotti’s side put in a commanding display. At the end of 90+3 minutes, the scoreboard read 3-2 in favour of Los Blancos, who managed to withstand the relentless attacks from the Citizens. Despite a weakened and reshuffled defence, Aurélien Tchouaméni and Raúl Asensio put in a solid shift.
Injury returns announced by Ancelotti
While things are looking promising for Los Merengues, they will need to manage the return leg perfectly next Wednesday to secure a place in the last 16. For this match, Carlo Ancelotti has announced the return of key defensive players. “It is clear that for the second leg, we need Rüdiger and Alaba, and I think they will be available. But the greater the urgency, the greater the sacrifices. This happened last year, and it has happened again this year. It was a bit surprising—I didn’t expect the team to make such sacrifices at this stage,” said the 65-year-old coach.
For Real Madrid, this is fantastic news. Despite his solid performances in defence, Aurélien Tchouaméni reiterated on Tuesday night that he does not enjoy playing in a position that is not his own. If Rüdiger’s return is confirmed, the defence will be more secure, with Raúl Asensio continuing to impress. However, things could get tricky for Los Blancos if City’s attack finds its spark in the return leg.
The showdown at the Santiago Bernabéu next Wednesday promises to be a thrilling encounter, with Real Madrid eager to build on their impressive victory. Should Ancelotti and his squad secure a positive result, they could well kickstart their winning momentum for the second half of the season.
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