The attacking talents of Real Madrid are legendary, but lurking behind them is a weak and exposed defence that Arsenal will look to take advantage of in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday.
Carlo Ancelotti’s forwards have often bailed out the team’s defensive frailties — as evidenced by their 2-1 loss to Valencia in La Liga last Saturday.
This unexpected defeat has left Real Madrid trailing Barcelona by four points and marked their 10th loss of the season across all competitions.
In contrast, last year Madrid experienced just two losses while claiming both the Spanish and European titles.
Ancelotti partly attributes the shift to the arrival of Kylian Mbappe from Paris Saint-Germain, which has bolstered Madrid’s attacking capabilities but weakened their defensive stability.
Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo Goes were the standout attackers last season, and now with Mbappe on board, they have formed a formidable quartet.
Additionally, the departure of Toni Kroos, who retired last summer, has left a noticeable gap in the midfield, where his calmness and precision were dearly missed.
“This year we are significantly more potent in attack due to Mbappe’s arrival, who has netted 33 goals, although our defensive struggles are more pronounced,” Ancelotti noted last week.
“When choices need to be made, that can lead to such outcomes… We are aware of the need to maintain our attacking effectiveness while enhancing our collective defensive efforts.”
Worsening matters for Madrid, holding midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni is suspended for the trip to the Emirates.
Both goalkeepers, Thibaut Courtois and Andriy Lunin, have been dealing with fitness issues, which saw 19-year-old Fran Gonzalez make his debut against Valencia. However, both may return by Tuesday.
“I believe we can have both back,” Ancelotti said following the defeat to Valencia.
“Opponents seem to find it easier to score against us,” he remarked after Hugo Duro scored a stunning last-minute winner at Santiago Bernabeu.
The loss against Valencia came just four days after Madrid surrendered four goals at home to Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey, although they ultimately advanced with a 5-4 aggregate score.
Defensive Deterioration
Los Blancos have conceded 31 goals in the league this season, five more than they did in the entire previous campaign.
In the Champions League, defeats to Liverpool, AC Milan, and Ligue 1 side Lille forced Madrid to contest in the new play-off round, where they outscored Manchester City 6-3 on aggregate.
This encounter showcased Madrid’s new style, with Mbappe netting four goals against a lacklustre City, but tougher opposition will undoubtedly exploit Madrid’s vulnerabilities.
During last season’s journey to Wembley, Madrid remained unbeaten in the Champions League.
Long-term injuries to Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao have complicated matters for Ancelotti in defence, while David Alaba has only recently returned and is yet to regain his peak form.
Despite evident defensive shortcomings, Madrid opted not to make any signings in that area over the summer.
Ancelotti has called upon 22-year-old Raul Asencio to provide some assistance, but he is far from a seasoned player, and Antonio Rudiger is doing his utmost to hold the defence intact.
Fortunately for Madrid, Rudiger and Mbappe received a one-match ban from UEFA that has been suspended, allowing them to feature against Arsenal after their celebrations following a last-16 victory over Atletico were deemed inappropriate.
At times, Ancelotti has been unclear about what he expects from his forwards.
“I’d prefer he focused on scoring goals rather than pressing,” the coach said regarding Mbappe in October, while at other times he has requested a higher work rate from him and Vinicius.
Ancelotti will be hoping that as he continues to find the right balance between attack and defence, Mbappe and his teammates will score more goals than Madrid concedes.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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