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Three talking points ahead of Real Madrid vs Barcelona | Copa del Rey final
The days leading up to the Copa del Rey final have been dramatic, from the referee breaking down in the pre-game press conference to Real Madrid demanding a change in match official to the point where they threatened to cancel the game.
All the focus, and rightly so, should be on the 90 minutes of football that will unfold between the two arch-rivals on Saturday night for the winner will take home a coveted trophy.
Barcelona entered the finale after eliminating Atletico Madrid in the semifinal while Real Madrid downed Real Sociedad in a dramatic game. Needless to say, there could not be a more fitting end to the competition than El Clasico.
For Real Madrid, however, the game means ever so slightly more than it does for their rivals, especially given their run in recent weeks. A win, needless to say, would be massive.
Madrid Universal brings you three talking points ahead of Real Madrid vs Barcelona.
A much-needed change in formation
Real Madrid have been dominated and outplayed in both El Clasicos this season, just as they were in the more recent set of games, especially against Arsenal. One common factor was the formation Carlo Ancelotti deployed – the 4-3-3 setup.
The manager shifted to the new system this season after the arrival of Kylian Mbappe so as to fit the Frenchman into the dynamics without benching Vinicius Jr. or Rodrygo.
His experiment, however, has been a colossal failure as Real Madrid not only lost by humiliating scorelines to Barcelona, AC Milan, Liverpool and Arsenal but have also looked unconvincing in weekly league games.
A change in setup is thus essential ahead of the third Clasico of the season, for it is clear that Barcelona will take the men in white to the cleaners should they line up in a 4-3-3.
Previously, all signs pointed to Ancelotti benching Rodrygo for the greater good, making space for an extra-midfielder. However, given Mbappe’s potential absence, the Brazilian would be extremely useful in attack.
Given Eduardo Camavinga’s injury, Luka Modric, Dani Ceballos, Aurelien Tchouameni and Jude Bellingham can thus start in the middle of the park if Federico Valverde plays at right-back.
The big question, however, is whether the manager will dare to change his team’s formation at this critical juncture.
Ancelotti’s last life-line
At this point, it appears accepted that Ancelotti will leave Real Madrid at the end of the season or possibly even before that.
Rumours earlier this week had it that the Italian coach could be sacked immediately after the Copa del Rey final if the team loses and it is clear that this game is crucial for him.
Concurrently, however, one must remember that it is never over until it is in football. Florentino Perez is not completely against Ancelotti’s continuity and a win tomorrow could turn his fortunes around.
While it will still not be guaranteed, Real Madrid winning against Barcelona in the final of the Copa del Rey could open a remote possibility that the Italian saves his job. Repeating the feat in the league Clasico will then make it much more probable.
Ancelotti heads into the game as a do-or-die clash. It may well serve to decide his future. An immediate sacking or a glimmer of hope of staying – it remains to be seen what fate the coach stares at after the 90 minutes at La Cartuja.
The season’s most important game
Real Madrid’s elimination from the UEFA Champions League ended the team’s hopes of defending the prestigious European title and leaves them fighting in just two competitions – La Liga and the Copa del Rey.
At this point, there are just five games to go in the domestic league and Barcelona have a four-point lead over the men in white – a position that implies that even winning the league Clasico will not mathematically bring the title race under Real Madrid’s command.
Given Barcelona’s domestic form and the gap they have maintained over Ancelotti’s men, there is a high probability that they go on to win the league, leaving the final as Real Madrid’s only direct chance at a trophy at the business end of the season.
The clash in Seville on Saturday night can thus be considered the most important game in Real Madrid’s remaining calendar this season. A defeat could well leave them trophyless.
A lot of decisions that the administration make over the coming months with respect to the staff, the players and the management could well come down to the result tomorrow night and Los Blancos must be motivated more than ever before to get the job done.
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.
