On Saturday, Real Madrid will host their neighbours, Atlético, at the Santiago Bernabéu for the showdown of La Liga’s 23rd matchday. Deprived of several key players, Carlo Ancelotti will have to patch up the gaps by repositioning some of his men. For this crucial game, certain notable mistakes must be avoided, particularly in the choice of the starting eleven.
Having drawn 1-1 in the first leg at the Civitas Metropolitano, the two Madrid giants will face off again on Saturday for the return fixture. Separated by just one point, both teams will be eager to win in order to strengthen their position at the top of the table. While Atlético Madrid will arrive with most of their key players, this will not be the case for Carlo Ancelotti’s squad, which is seriously weakened by injuries in defence. Injured last weekend in the league, Madrid’s defensive colossus, Antonio Rüdiger, will watch the match from the stands, just like David Alaba, who suffered an unexpected muscle injury on Tuesday.
The player who should not play against the Colchoneros
Given the circumstances, Real Madrid will likely rely on their attacking trio: Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo Goes, and Kylian Mbappé. In midfield, there is no real concern, with Jude Bellingham, Dani Ceballos, Luka Modric, and Federico Valverde, who could even be deployed as a right-back in place of Lucas Vázquez. The latter also picked up an injury before the Copa del Rey quarter-finals and is not at full fitness. However, it is the centre-back pairing that requires the most attention.
Indeed, after testing Raul Asensio and Jacobo Ramon against Leganés on Thursday in the Copa del Rey, Carlo Ancelotti is expected to make some changes. Given Ramon’s difficult debut, it would be too risky to field him again in a match where the opponent boasts an incredible attacking force. Against Leganés, the 1.90m defender struggled significantly in aerial and ground duels, and he missed several clear interventions. Replaying him against Atlético would be almost suicidal.
Tchouaméni: The best solution
Given the intensity and stakes of the match, repositioning Aurélien Tchouaméni alongside Raul Asensio in central defence would be the most sensible decision. The French midfielder, who has already been used in this position several times could bring greater stability to the defence. Although he is not flawless when playing in the backline, Tchouaméni remains the best possible solution for Madrid at the moment.
For the rest of the defence, whether it is Ferland Mendy or Fran Garcia, the key will be to ensure that whoever starts shows defensive solidity while also contributing in attack. As is often the case in big matches, it is likely that the French full-back will start in the Madrid derby, which will be officiated by a referee perceived as “hostile” to Los Blancos. Hopefully, there will be no further surprises within the squad to avoid any last-minute injuries for Real Madrid.
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