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Three talking points ahead of Barcelona vs Real Madrid | Spanish Super Cup final
Real Madrid may not have been at their best against Atletico Madrid in the semifinal of the Spanish Super Cup earlier this week, but they did eventually get the job done.
A 2-1 win over their local rivals helped them book a berth in the finale of the competition where they will face off against Barcelona in a fascinating clash later tonight.
Real Madrid lost both the finals they played against Hansi Flick’s side last season, but they have won their most recent game against the Blaugrana in La Liga.
Both sides, needless to say, will come out all guns blazing and the game may well prove to. Be a high-scoring affair.
Madrid Universal brings you three talking points ahead of Barcelona vs Real Madrid.
A defensive crisis once more
Real Madrid’s semifinal win over Atletico Madrid in the derby came at a costly price, especially in the defensive department where the tam have struggled all season.
In what can only be described as a bizarre development, both of Real Madrid’s starting centre-backs asked to be taken off in the same substitution window, leaving the team with a makeshift back-line.
What is more worrying, however, is the uncertainty looming over the defensive situation ahead of the final.
Antonio Rudiger has made progress after aggravating his knee setback and will be available, but whether he is ready to start remains uncertain. Meanwhile, David Alaba is practically out of Xabi Alonso’s plans for a multitude of reasons.
There is optimism around Raul Asencio starting, after it has been confirmed that he has no injury, but there remains a doubt as to who will partner him in the final.
After all, Dean Huijsen did not even come off the bench in the semifinal despite both central defenders coming off, leaving massive questions about his fitness and match-preparedness ahead of a Clasico.
The big questions for Alonso, thus, are whether Asencio is indeed ready to start and who will partner him if he is. If throwing Rudiger and Huijsen into the deep end is not viable, he may have to use one of Alvaro Carreras or Aurelien Tchouameni in the position.
Is it worth risking Mbappe?
The million-dollar question for Alonso ahead of tonight’s clash is whether it is worth the risk to start Kylian Mbappe given that the Frenchman is partially being rushed back from injury.
There is no doubt that the 27-year-old has made progress in his recovery and that he is close to his complete fitness.
Earlier in the day, there were reports that pointed out an idea in the Real Madrid administration to give Mbappe painkillers to help him participate in the final. The report also suggested that the attacker would be rested later in the week to compensate.
Injuries, however, do not work that way, and fielding Mbappe if he is not at his 100% will risk an aggravation. The same decision, after all, backfired with Rudiger in the semifinal.
Another doubt that the management have around Mbappe is whether the France captain will be ready to return directly for a final given that he last played before the Christmas break.
All eyes, thus, will be on Alonso to see what he decides over Mbappe’s participation.
A title that could change everything
Nothing unites a dressing room the same way a trophy does, and Real Madrid have that golden chance ahead of them just over 24 hours away.
Alonso does indeed have some of the pressure lifted off his shoulders after the win in the derby, but winning the trophy will remove any lingering doubts and almost assure him having the reins of the team until the end of the season.
For the locker room, the effect of lifting the silverware cannot be understated. After all, most of Real Madrid’s dressing room thrive in races for trophies, and winning their first domestic title in over a year will be a massive unifying factor.
If everything goes to plan, the night in Jeddah could well be a turning point in Real Madrid’s season. It could serve as a unifying force between the players and the manager, just as it can between the coach and the board.
The stakes, needless to say, could not be higher for Real Madrid.
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.
