BARCA UNIVERSAL
Two weeks and a world of pain later, Real Madrid return to the field on Sunday for Matchday 14 of La Liga when they face Cadiz. The campaign thus far has been anything but easy, and the coming weeks once again bring a hectic schedule to the table of the Merengues.
There is a world of uncertainty over the status of Carlo Ancelotti’s players ahead of the clash against Cadiz. Some players are injured, others partially fit while a third set are overworked and under-rested. Juggling between the three aforementioned sets presents the manager with some critical decisions ahead of kickoff.
Cadiz boast of just ten points in 12 games in La Liga this season. With only three points separating them from the relegation zone, a defeat tomorrow could well see them enter the danger zone and thus gives them impetus to go out all guns blazing.
Madrid Universal brings you three talking points ahead of Cadiz vs Real Madrid.
Angst in midfield
Ancelotti is no stranger to handling situations with heavily understaffed departments. Over his long and illustrious career as a manager, he has seen many a day under similar circumstances and come out with tactical workarounds.
Yet, one cannot help but be worried about Real Madrid’s midfield heading into the first game after the international break.
Aurelien Tchouameni’s injury after El Clasico, in itself, was a massive blow to Ancelotti’s plans. The Frenchman was the team’s best defensive midfield option by a country mile and had found his best form in recent weeks.
Adding Eduardo Camavinga to that list only makes the situation direr. With them ruled out, the manager loses two of his most reliable weapons in the middle. More importantly, he is now left without a natural pivot.
Everything indicates that Toni Kroos will start at the base of the diamond midfield on Sunday night. Luka Modric and Federico Valverde, both of whom had hectic schedules with their national teams, are likely to start as the interiors against Cadiz.
The mainstay in midfield, Jude Bellingham, is expected to return to action at the apex of the diamond, having recuperated from his shoulder injury.
Forward constraint
If Los Blancos’ midfield department is in jeopardy, the forward lineup is in a whole new world of pain.
The men in white began the season with only three natural attacking options – Vinicius Jr, Joselu and Rodrygo Goes. Of them, the former was quite clearly the most pivotal.
