Real Madrid’s Concerns After Two Consecutive Losses
Under the guidance of coach Carlo Ancelotti, the Real Madrid squad has displayed disappointing form after suffering back-to-back defeats against Barcelona and Juventus. These results indicate that Real Madrid might not be fully prepared for the upcoming season despite bolstering their ranks with quality signings.
Refreshing the Midfield
In the loss against Barcelona, Ancelotti lamented the team’s wastefulness in front of goal, hitting the woodwork five times but failing to score. However, facing a Juventus side that isn’t excessively strong, Real Madrid’s struggles are harder to explain.
In reality, it becomes clear that the Italian coach is experimenting with a new lineup. Even in the Super Clásico, the Whites prioritized new signings and young stars. Notable Los Blancos figures like Toni Kroos and Luka Modric were relegated to the bench. Jude Bellingham supported the Brazilian attacking duo of Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo. Eduardo Camavinga, Aurelien Tchouameni, and Federico Valverde were also in the starting lineup. The average age of Real Madrid’s starting lineup was 25.7.
Ancelotti’s experimentation led to a heavy defeat against Barca. The Catalan team fielded a formidable attacking pair in Robert Lewandowski and Ousmane Dembele, with Pedri playing a pivotal role. In midfield, new signing Ilkay Gundogan started alongside Frenkie de Jong and Oriol Romeu. This could be considered Barca’s strongest lineup.
Real Madrid’s lineup against Juventus underwent some adjustments. Modric and Kroos started alongside Camavinga. Bellingham continued to be trusted, but Rodrygo and Valverde were absent. These changes meant that Los Blancos started slowly, and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois conceded two goals within the first 20 minutes of play.
A common factor in the two consecutive losses is the lack of cohesion in midfield and insufficient defensive support. However, Ancelotti’s intentions are evident. He’s willing to take risks by not prioritizing the use of Kroos and Modric. The quartet of Bellingham, Camavinga, Tchouameni, and Valverde, with an average age of 22, is receiving visible preference. Still, Real Madrid fans need to exercise patience and allow time for these players to shine.
Awaiting the Firepower of Kylian Mbappe
Real Madrid once boasted the famous BBC trio comprising Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, and Cristiano Ronaldo. Now, fans are eagerly anticipating the formation of a new trio. If circumstances align, Vinicius and Rodrygo could combine with Kylian Mbappe to form a formidable attacking force.
After the defeats against Barca and Juve, fans of Los Blancos are even more eager for Mbappe to join the club. While Vinicius and Rodrygo are highly talented, possessing exceptional speed and dribbling skills, Mbappe surpasses them significantly in terms of effectiveness and finishing ability.
Statistics from the Barca match showed that Real Madrid attempted 29 shots but only managed to hit the target 5 times. Barca created 12 dangerous chances and scored three goals against Courtois. Vinicius even missed a penalty, earned by Valverde. Similarly, against Juve, Ancelotti’s squad took 34 shots but only scored 1 goal past Wojciech Szczesny. Juventus made 11 attempts on Courtois’ goal and scored three times.
Mbappe currently holds a record of 212 goals in 260 matches for PSG. For the French national team, the 24-year-old striker ranks fifth in the list of top scorers with 40 goals, behind leader Olivier Giroud with 14 goals. Mbappe has secured six Ligue 1 titles, three French Cups, two French League Cups, two French Super Cups, the 2018 World Cup, and the 2021 Nations League.
Clearly, with his class, experience, and exceptional goal-scoring ability, Real Madrid is highly eager to acquire Kylian Mbappe. He could be the top-class center-forward to replace Karim Benzema at the Bernabeu.
