Real Madrid News
Real Madrid plan to ‘build a wall’ against Erling Haaland at Etihad Stadium – report
Manchester City have established themselves as one of the best sides in Europe in recent years. While they have always been an act of real grit and mettle, the addition of Erling Haalans has just elevated their performances.
The Norweigan international is a born goalscorer. The numbers of his first season in the Premier League are staggering and it is clear why Real Madrid and Manchester City fought tooth and nail for his signing last summer.
Carlo Ancelotti managed to keep the striker silent in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semifinal last week at Santiago Bernabeu. With the return fixture scheduled at the Etihad, however, the threat posed by Erling Haaland will be greater than ever.
In 32 Premier League appearances so far this season, the 22-year-old has scored 35 goals and seven assists to his name. His numbers in the UEFA Champions League are even more staggering, as he has scored 12 goals and provided one assist in just nine games.
According to reports from El Confidencial (h/t Madrid Xtra), the Italian manager is planning to change his setup only to neutralise the Norweigan’s threat. The plan is to build a wall around Haaland on Wednesday, and Ancelotti hopes to achieve that by starting Antonio Rudiger, David Alaba, and Eder Militao together.
The Brazilian missed the first leg of the semifinal through suspension, but Alaba and Rudiger did a phenomenal job in defence to keep Pep Guardiola’s men at bay.
All reports suggest that Real Madrid will put up a defence-centred show at the Etihad next week, hoping to strike gold on the occasional counter and secure a place in the final. After all, it is a strategy that has worked out so many times for them over the years.
Real Madrid have officially announced that winger Marco Asensio will be leaving the club as a free agent at the end of the season. The Spaniard was between a contract extension and departure for a very long time, and eventually decided it was best for him to leave.
Asensio joined Madrid eight years ago, as a 20-year-old, and was loaned out to Espanyol during his first season in the top flight, where he scored four goals and gave ten assists across 34 appearances.
He has since been a key member of Real Madrid’s team, often dropping in and out of starting lineups, though. During his time at the Santiago Bernabeu, Asensio has won three UEFA Champions Leagues, four FIFA Club World Cups, three La Ligas, and three European Super Cups.
“Real Madrid fans will never forget their path and their exemplary behaviors during all this time. Madrid is, and will always be, his home,” the farewell announcement said.
Now, rumours suggest that Asensio will heading to Paris to join PSG on a Bosman move.
