2024-09-21
Between the choice of controlled football or vertigo, Carlo Ancelotti is clear and chooses “rock and roll”, which he assures R fans will love.Real Madrid.
In search of football with more balance and more intelligence, to add results, The SpanishHe arrived at the Santiago Bernabeu at his best after two successive victories.
“What Real Madrid fans want is to win.” With that statement, Ancelotti responds to criticism of his team's lack of good football at the start of the season, choosing the end of the game.
Despite having the same pieces that replaced Toni Kroos in the starting eleven for Kylian Mbappé, the change in formation left several imbalances. Although the emotions were not as expected, in seven games and already with a title, the Madrid team is undefeated, and they played their last three games against Betis, Real Sociedad and Stuttgart amid doubts.
Against Espanyol he will extend those tactical changes that made 'Carleto' lose his smile, having already brought back Aurélien Tchouaméni and Jude Bellingham for La Liga, but he will rule out the option of increasing the balance with a fourth midfielder.
The profile of the rival and the next fight will leave that decision in the first match against Alaves, Atletico's direct rival Metropolitano derby at the Bernabeu on Tuesday.
With Tchouaméni and Bellingham needing minutes to get into the rhythm of the new 'Champions', Adi needs to recover and improve his understanding of the trident, replacing Eder Militao in the new 'Champions' match. And the 'feel' with goals can be improved, reducing the possibility of Ancelotti cycles. If Ferland Mendy is to be rested, Fran Garcia's entry and a possible starting position for Luka Modric are the only options.
The Madrid coach is still unable to include David Alaba, Dani Ceballos, Eduardo Kamavinga and Brahim Diaz due to injury, which greatly reduces the room for maneuver to distribute minutes and organize efforts. Brazilian Endric, who has already scored in the league, against Real Valladolid, and in the Champions League, against Stuttgart, is demanding a passage based on goals in the few minutes he gets.
Ancelotti announced a starting position this week and on Alaves day he appeared with more options to be marked in red on his calendar.
Espanyol visits the Bernabeu in its best moment after securing victories against Atletico de Madrid (0-0) and Rayo Vallecano (2-1) and Alaves (3-2). He hasn't won in nearly three decades.
To find the Blue and White's last win in La Liga, we have to go back to the 1995-96 season, in which they won 1-2 thanks to Jordi Lardin's double. Since then, the Parrots have managed just three draws at the Madrid fiefdom. The rest, 27 failures.
However, coach Manolo Gonzalez's team did not give up anything on this day. Everyone knows that the game plan needs to be perfect, but they come in confident in their work and are ready to sign their thousandth win in the first division.
As for the exact names, Real Madrid will mark in red the name of Espanyol forward Javi Puato, who scored a hat-trick on the last day against Alaves. The Parrot captain has faced the white team three times: he has always lost and never seen the net, something he hopes to rectify this Saturday.
The Espanyol coach cannot rely on long-term injured midfielder Edu Exposito and maintains doubts over central defender Calero due to ankle problems.
Technical paper
. Confirmed Rows:
Real Madrid: Courtois Carvajal, Choumeni, Militão, Fran Garcia; Valverde, Modric; Arda Güler, Bellingham, Rodrygo; Mbappé.
Tchouameni as the center for Rudiger; Vinicius rests and Gular takes his place. Modric turned to eleven
Spanish: Joan Garcia; Omar El Hilali, Kumbulla, Cabrera, Oliven; Tejero, Král, Gragera, Romero; Puato and Veliz.
Referee: Munuera Montero (Andalusian School)
VAR: From Burgos Bengoetxea (Basque School).
Time and channel: 1:00' pm and on ESPN (United States) and Dazn.
Arena: Santiago Bernabeu.
