Matches
Gonzalo, Mastantuono start in a 4-3-3: How Real Madrid can line up against Albacete
It is the dawn of a new era at Real Madrid today as they get set to play their first match under manager Alvaro Arbeloa, facing Albacete in the Copa del Rey Round of 16.
The Merengues sacked Xabi Alonso earlier this week, following their return from Saudi Arabia empty-handed, having lost the Spanish Super Cup final to Barcelona.
Arbeloa, who had done a solid job with the Castilla team so far this season, has now been handed the first-team reins and the former defender will be eager to make a mark.
The 42-year-old tactician is known to set his teams up in a 4-3-3 formation that try to play a high-pressing style of football, although, given that he has only had one training session with the team so far, there is unlikely to be a ‘revolution’ right away.
Moreover, Real Madrid are likely to be without some important players for the match. Kylian Mbappe, Rodrygo Goes, and Antonio Rudiger did not train with the team on Tuesday and are unlikely to be risked due to their fitness troubles.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ferland Mendy, and Eder Militao are out injured while Federico Valverde is also likely to miss the game due to physical issues.
With that in mind, here’s how Real Madrid could take the field in their first match of the Arbeloa era against Albacete later tonight.
Defence
As is the norm for the cup competition, Andriy Lunin is expected to replace Thibaut Courtois in goal for Real Madrid tonight, hoping to secure a clean sheet against the lower league club.
Meanwhile, in defence, academy graduate David Jimenez could be in line to start at right-back, with Dani Carvajal needing his minutes managed after only returning from an injury and Fede Valverde also in need of a breather.
On the opposite side, Fran Garcia should replace Alvaro Carreras, providing the new signing with a well-deserved break.
Raul Asencio and Dean Huijsen should continue as the centre-back pairing for the Spanish capital club.
Midfield
Arbeloa likes to play with a single pivot in midfield, and prefers a player who can not only thwart attacks but also carry the ball forward. So, Eduardo Camavinga might have a proper shot at establishing himself as a starter under the new coach moving forward.
However, for his first game, with little to no time to get his ideas across, Arbeloa is likely to continue with Aurelien Tchouameni, who had been excellent under Xabi Alonso, as his pivot midfielder.
Arda Guler, who has seen his form and minutes somewhat dwindle in recent games, is likely to get a starting opportunity in the middle of the park. He will hope to make a big impression on the new coach with a strong performance.
Jude Bellingham is likely to be the third midfielder for Real Madrid and it will be interesting to see how Arbeloa plans to use the Englishman in his tactical setup.
Attack
Up top, Gonzalo Garcia is set to start as the centre-forward for Real Madrid tonight, with Kylian Mbappe unlikely to be risked after his hurried return in the Super Cup final.
Vinicius Jr. finished the last game against Barcelona cramping up and exhausted. But, with there being no injury, he is likely to start and build on his strong performance in the Super Cup final despite the loss.
Finally, Franco Mastantuono should be in line for a rare starting opportunity on the right flank in attack, having not played much since returning from his pubalgia issues.
Real Madrid made a mess of their game against Elche last night, and it is clear that the men in white have several flaws with no answers at the moment.
From being 2-0 up, the men in white bottled their lead and threw the game into jeopardy by permitting Elche to score two goals. The result, as many saw it, was set to end in a draw.
With some persistent attacks in the dying minutes, however, Real Madrid managed to build pressure on Elche and eventually scored one more goal at the death to take home the three points.
Needless to say, however, the negatives from the game far outweigh the positive news of the three points.
Madrid Universal brings you three takeaways from Elche 2-3 Real Madrid.
Another second-half collapse
After Real Madrid’s win over Rayo Vallecano at the weekend, Jose Mourinho stressed the fact that Real Madrid actually played only one half and that the fatigue began showing after the break.
On the night, the opposition began to enjoy more dominance and create chances after half-time as they outran and outpressed Los Blancos to good effect.
Last night was no different, and the second half went completely awry.
The men in white entered the half-time break cruising with a 2-0 lead and significant dominance over the proceedings. They had a massive xG, with Elche barely creating any chances of note.
After the break, however, the entire dynamic of the game changed as Real Madrid took a step back and handed the impetus to the hosts. Pressing high and attacking without fear, Elche dominated Real Madrid for most of the second half and had a staggering 60% of possession.
They scored twice – in the 71st and 83rd minutes – and equalised Real Madrid on the night. Given the visitors’ shambolic display, it was deserved for Elche.
At this point, the constant second-half collapses and fatigue struggles of the team after just 45 minutes of action must worry Jose Mourinho immensely. Heading into a derby away from home, Real Madrid have to do much better.
The away curse continues
While Real Madrid’s form at home has been imperious this season, their form away from home has been equally shocking.
They began their season with a last-minute win over Espanyol, and their second league game of the season on the road came against Real Betis and ended in defeat.
Heading into their third away game last night, there was an element of worry about how they would perform, and the trend continued once more.
Real Madrid did well to take the lead on the night, but they made the second half a massive war and far more difficult than it should have been.
At this point, serious questions have to be raised about Real Madrid’s form on the road and their inability to keep games under control when playing in away stadiums.
Heading forward in the season, Los Blancos have some massive away games coming up against far more difficult opposition. The Madrid derby is up next, and the team’s form is nothing promising heading into that fixture.
Carlos Espi saves the day… again!
Real Madrid are currently on 15 points after six games in the league, but Carlos Espi has directly contributed to a massive chunk of that.
If not for the new Spanish striker’s ability to come up clutch in big moments, Real Madrid could well have been on just 11 points at this stage in the season, and the four points he has added are absolutely crucial.
Against Espanyol, it was Espi who scored a stoppage-time winner to hand Real Madrid all three points after a complicated match. Last night, he repeated the same heroics once more.
With the team staring at a draw, the new signing was at the right place at the right time to bury Kylian Mbappe’s assist in stoppage time, handing Real Madrid all three points at the death.
He may not have played a large part on the night, but his cameo was again powerful and it is clear that he elevates the team’s attack and provides new solutions in front of goal. Espi has already proven his talent, and his ability to perform under pressure is what makes him special.
