Features
Three talking points ahead of Manchester City vs Real Madrid | Champions League Round of 16
With seven goals in their last two games, Real Madrid are at one of their few peaks of the season in terms of the squad cohesion, form, and unity.
The win over Manchester City at the Santiago Bernabeu was a result that not many would have expected, and to do so by a 3-0 margin only showed that Real Madrid can still be formidable on their day.
To make matters even better, Los Blancos retained that form at the weekend and scored four goals past Elche in La Liga, maintaining the momentum on their side.
Tomorrow, they take to the field for the second leg of the Round of 16 clash against Pep Guardiola’s side, and the only objective they will have in mind will be to enter the quarterfinals at any cost.
Madrid Universal brings you three talking points ahead of Manchester City vs Real Madrid.
A lead to fall back on
It is not often that a UEFA Champions League knockout clash feels done and dusted after a single leg, but something about Real Madrid’s fixture against Manchester City suggests the same.
Los Blancos, after all, demolished Manchester City by a 3-0 margin in the first-leg at the Santiago Bernabeu, and while that lead may not be enough, it is a healthy advantage to defend.
Pep Guardiola’s side will enter the game on Tuesday knowing full well that they have to deliver the game of their lives to turn around that deficit. While it is not impossible, however, it is clear that Real Madrid have one leg in the quarterfinals.
With the pressure firmly on the hosts, Real Madrid could perhaps play second-fiddle tomorrow, looking to hit out on the break after soaking in the pressure.
The defence, however, will have to be more alert than ever for every goal the hosts score on the night will down Los Blancos’ spirits and give Guardiola’s side belief that a comeback is on the cards.
To risk or not to risk Mbappe?
The big news ahead of the game midweek is the return of two mainstays to the squad – Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe.
Needless to say, the double boost comes as a massive positive for Alvaro Arbeloa’s plans, for the manager has made it very clear how much he values both stars and what they bring to the field.
What remains to be calculated, however, is whether either player should play and under what conditions they must be called onto the field.
For a game in the Champions League, it is clear that Arbeloa will want his best men on the job. The dilemma, however, arises from the fact that both players may well have been rushed to make it back in time for the big game.
Mbappe could have some minutes off the bench on the night, but if Arbeloa has the chance to get through the ninety minutes without his presence, that must be the priority.
After all, the Frenchman’s long-term fitness is the priority, and allowing him minutes as a formality at this point would appear unnecessary if the team are cruising to the next round.
The same decision and stance, needless to say, goes with Bellingham as well who has been absent for months now and will be relatively rusty.
Going for the offence
With a three-goal lead in the bag, it is but natural for the approach of Real Madrid to be a more measured and conservative one.
Preserving that lead, after all, would appear to be an easier task to accomplish compared to playing a completely neutral game with equal attacking opportunities.
Alvaro Arbeloa and Co., however, must move away from any such plans and go on the offensive on the night, for it remains in their best interest to score another goal and kill off the game.
Manchester City will likely commit all their resources in attack and leave spaces behind at the back, leaving Los Blancos with the right situation to capitalise on.
Even just one early goal on the night will take the aggregate score to 4-0 in Real Madrid’s favour and kill off any enthusiasm or dreams from the Premier League side.
It will thus be interesting to see what instructions Arbeloa hands out to the team come Tuesday and whether they go on the offensive or sit in a deep defensive block.
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.
