The pressure is maximum in Madrid. Beaten 3-0 on the way to the Emirates Stadium, Real finds himself back to the wall as the Champions League return from the Champions League. In Santiago Bernabeu, we hope for a memorable rise. To achieve this, Carlo Ancelotti knows that he will have to correct the sector that has most failed: the midfield.
And it is precisely on two men that the Italian coach founded his hopes. Two very different but complementary profiles: Aurélien Tchouameni and Dani Ceballos. Their tenure on Wednesday already seems to be acquired, and their role promises to be decisive. The suspension of Eduardo Camavong forces the staff to reinvent a more compact, more coherent environment capable of containing the English intensity.
The middle, Achille du Real heel to go
In London, Luka Modric has struggled. The absence of Toni Kroos, not replaced, was sorely felt. Real has been overwhelmed in duels and transitions. The weakness of the pressing, the spacing between the lines and the lack of racing volume have been largely pointed out. Ancelotti knows this: to exist Wednesday, it will take a solid, disciplined and creative midfield.
Much awaited tchouameni against Arsenal.
French and Spanish have the profile to take up the challenge. Tchouameni will bring his physical impact and his defensive reading. Ceballos will try to produce binders and mastery in recovery. In the absence of Camavonga, their mission is clear: to breathe a breath to a Real dominated in the battle of the environment.
Pressing, intensity, and role of attackers
But Real will not be able to count solely on its circles. Collective performance should be impeccable, starting with the efforts of offensive in the pressing. During the first leg, Vinicius, Rodrygo and especially Mbappé were too little involved in the loss of the ball. This time, sacrifice should be collective.
Suspended in La Liga, Kylian MbappĂ© will be available for this return round. But his mental state questions. His expulsion against AlavĂ©s, a consequence of a badly mastered gesture, threw a shadow on his preparation. Despite everything, Madrid expects a lot from him. To hope to exist in the semi-finals, Real will need a released MbappĂ© … and a found background.
