Real Madrid and Manchester City face their first final of the season. An early final to which we have become accustomed for four consecutive seasons now, with three semi-finals in a row between the two. On this occasion, however, the Champions League brings us this clash much earlier than usual: in the round of 32.
A clash that is the result of poor performances in the group stage by both teams and, as punishment, they are forced to face each other at the first hurdle. A clash in which, whatever happens, one of the big favorites to lift the Champions League will be out. In fact, in the last three seasons, the winner of this new European classic is the one that has ended up crowned champion.
Real Madrid come out all guns blazing in the first battle… And Valverde on the wing
And unlike the battle of the Etihad Stadium in last season’s Champions League, Carlo Ancelotti has a weapon this year that he didn’t have last season: Kylian Mbappé, who is in the best form of his career, and will form the Whites’ front line accompanied by Rodrygo and Vinícius, and supported by Jude Bellingham, with all hands on deck to put on a great show.
Where Carlo Ancelotti did come up against a major problem was in the defensive area. Without Rüdiger, Alaba and Lucas Vázquez, the Italian would have to juggle to put together his starting defence. In the centre, it seemed clear that Asencio and Tchouaméni would be the key pieces, while the doubts were limited to the full-backs, more specifically, the right-back.
In the latter position, Lucas Vázquez’s injury opened up two possibilities: the most logical, which consisted of replacing Fede Valverde at full-back, opting for a safe option but losing an asset in the midfield, and the more surprising one, which the Italian coach tried in the build-up to the match, which consisted of placing Mendy on the right with a change of foot. An option that was considered until the line-ups were announced, after which it became little more than an idea.
Finally, with no room for surprise, Carlo Ancelotti opted to start with a defense that was as unusual as it was unconventional. In the end, both Fede Valverde and Ferland Mendy made up the full-backs, with Fran García the big loser in a lineup that the Italian coach tried for the first time all season, a necessary experiment at one of the most important moments of the season.
Real Madrid’s final lineup at the Etihad
Real Madrid’s final starting eleven was thus made up as follows: Courtois; Valverde, Tchouaméni, Asencio, Mendy; Camavinga, Ceballos, Bellingham; Rodrygo, Vinicius and Mbappé.