This Wednesday at the Metropolitano, Real Madrid will be looking to eliminate Atlético de Madrid in the Champions League to continue their path to the round of 16. The Whites start with a slight advantage, but they want to seal the tie in a game that looks complicated and to which they come with some doubts in the starting eleven given the performance of some of their players.
The Whites struck first at the Santiago Bernabéu a week ago. Brahim Díaz’s goal allowed Real Madrid to celebrate their 500th European Cup/Champions League match with their first win over Atleti this season after two close matches in La Liga. To get a “small advantage… was our goal,” said Carlo Ancelotti. However, the tie “is far from over,” said Brahim Díaz.
Closing the tie is the objective in a week in which he has sold in La Liga, but suffering from having his mind already set on this duel at the Metropolitano. Against the Vallecano team, Ancelotti opted for rotations in the starting eleven. Rüdiger, in addition to discomfort, did not train due to a flu-like process and the coach gave him a rest against Rayo Vallecano. On the other hand, the surprise came with the absence of Thibaut Courtois, who was suffering from discomfort in the patella of his right leg. Finally, the coach gave Fede Valverde a rest after he had already pushed himself to the limit to play against Simeone’s side in the first leg. Modric also played for Camavinga in midfield.
With these rotations, Real Madrid beat Rayo Vallecano (2-1) in a game in which they lived on a knife edge, heard whistles from their fans in the second half for their lack of control and in which Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Junior appeared to seal the game in the first half. Pedro Díaz reduced the deficit with a great goal, but the Whites knew how to suffer.
Injuries and doubts in midfield
Ancelotti confirmed that he will be without Dani Carvajal, Éder Militao, Jesús Vallejo and Dani Ceballos for the next game, all out through injury. In the victory against Atleti at the Santiago Bernabéu, Real Madrid’s image was not the best. Tchouameni is in good form and performs well on the pitch. Against Simeone’s team, he made the most passes, was the best ball winner and generated several goal-scoring chances. The problem was with his teammate, Camavinga.
Against Rayo, Ancelotti opted for Luka Modric who played the full 90 minutes. Without doubt the Croatian, despite his age, is performing well in the minutes he is given, but everything indicates that Ancelotti will opt to repeat the starting eleven that played against Atlético de Madrid in the first leg, changing Brahim for Bellingham who returns after serving a suspension.
Possible Real Madrid XI
Goalkeeper: Courtois
Defense: Fede Valverde; Raúl Asencio, Rüdiger, Mendy;
Midfielders: Tchouameni, Camavinga, Bellingham;