Real Madrid are playing for a place in the quarter finals against Atlético de Madrid. The Santiago Bernabéu will witness the first leg of the last sixteen of the Champions League against an Atlético de Madrid side that seems to have taken the measure of the Whites in recent encounters but has never been able to eliminate them from Europe’s top competition.
Real Madrid have shown two completely different sides recently. In the Champions League they have eliminated Manchester City in the playoffs that gave them access to this round, achieving a victory by 2-3 away, and winning convincingly at the Santiago Bernabéu with a hat-trick from Mbappe. However, LaLiga has been Real Madrid’s negative point in the last month. They began February seven points behind second place and now find themselves three points behind the leaders. They have lost 10 of the last 15 points at stake, showing a lack of game and intensity.
Demands on Real Madrid
Tonight’s game is of vital importance for Carlo Ancelotti‘s men. Real Madrid cannot afford to lose in the top European competition against their eternal rival at this stage of the competition. The defeat could have catastrophic consequences, starting with Carlo Ancelotti and continuing with some of the big names in the squad.
Ancelotti and Simeone have faced each other 26 times with a balance of maximum equality, 9 wins each and 8 draws. In recent encounters, Atlético de Madrid has managed to beat the Whites. But the precedents in the Champions League are all favorable to Real Madrid, who have never been eliminated by the Rojiblancos and have won two Champions League finals in 2014 and 2016.
In La Liga matches, the two coaches have faced each other 12 times with 5 victories for the Argentine, 2 for the Italian and 5 draws. In the Copa del Rey, the figures favor Ancelotti, with 3 victories, 2 defeats and 1 draw.
Real Madrid will be looking to impose the weight of history in order to progress to the next round of the Champions League, but as the Italian coach said, there will be maximum equality and it seems that everything will be decided in the second leg. However, Real Madrid have the opportunity to strike first at home.
Injuries to Real Madrid
Real Madrid have several players out for today’s game, some of them very important, as is the case of Jude Bellingham. The English footballer is an undisputed part of Ancelotti’s plans, but he will have to serve a suspension for an accumulation of cards, but his participation is assured for the second leg. Dani Ceballos is another important loss, as the Utrera native had become an undisputed part of the midfield this season. To cover these absences, everything indicates that Brahim and Camavinga will be the substitutes. Vallejo also joins the absences, who, although he is not part of Ancelotti’s plans, suffers from a muscle injury that prevents him from being included in the squad for tonight’s game.
On the other hand, there is no doubt that Asencio has earned his place in the defense and will be in the starting eleven alongside Rudiger. Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao are ruled out as they continue to recover from their serious injuries and will not play for Real Madrid again until next season.
The doubt was Fede Valverde. The Uruguayan player has been included in the squad, but has missed three games through injury to his hamstring. He was expected to recover his place on the right wing but will finally be in the match.
Real Madrid line-up against Atlético de Madrid
- Goalkeeper: Courtois
- Defenders: Mendy, Rudiger, Asencio and Valverde.
- Midfielders: Tchouaméni, Camavinga and Brahim
- Forwards: Rodrygo, Vinicius and Mbappé