New ranking in the Champions League: Real Madrid is considered an outsider against Manchester City on Tuesday (09.05.2023). Los Blancos could play that role in the tactical maps..
At the weekend, Real Madrid regained the necessary amount of self-confidence for the first part of the European showdown: Before the semi-final first leg in the Champions League against Manchester City on Tuesday, Real secured the Spanish Cup almost in passing. Madrid won the cup for the 20th time with a 2-1 victory over CA Osasuna in the Copa del Rey final. It was the first cup title since 2014.
Vinicius Junior makes the difference
Outstanding man in coach Carlo Ancelotti’s team: Vinicius Junior. The Brazilian left winger could never be gotten under control by the opponents from Pamplona, prepared both Real goals in an exemplary manner and, from the Spaniards’ point of view, should be one of the greatest hopes for the upcoming “giant duels” with City.
The pace of the 22-year-old, who has made 50 competitive appearances for Real this season, could become a real problem for Manchester City. When Vinicius Junior has space and gets a well-timed deep pass (Toni Kroos and Luka Modic can do that), he’s pretty much unstoppable. And once the cheeky Brazilian has targeted his direct opponent with his dribbles, he won’t leave him alone.
Big task for Kyle Walker
It seems clear who at City will be assigned the task of stopping Vinicius Junior if possible: Kyle Walker – by far the fastest City defender – will watch all possible video sequences of the striker in order to adjust his own position play accordingly. He will have to disrupt Real’s winger early on, also to prevent his almost perfect interaction with Real center forward Karim Benzema from developing.
City will keep the two under close surveillance. Otherwise, the experts assume that the English – currently rated as the best team in the world – will also dominate Real Madrid with their possession football.
Lesson learned from 21/22: Real things should never be written off
It was the same last season when the two met in the semifinals. Back then, too, City were the dominant team for long stretches of the two games, but had to admit defeat to the Spaniards in the end. After a 4-3 home win at the Bernabeu, City led 1-0 until the final minute before two ultra-late goals from Rodrygo turned the game around and saved Real into extra time. There, Benzema put the lid on with his goal to make it 3-1 against shocked opponents.
This time City is considered an even bigger favorite than a year ago. The confident victory against FC Bayern and, above all, the fact that they now have Erling Haaland, the striker in their ranks, which they were missing so much last season, makes the English the top favorites for the title. Real Madrid are the underdogs against this seemingly perfect team.
Ancelotti feels comfortable as an underdog
And this role could be tailor-made for the Ancelotti team. If the Madrilenians seem to have no chance – then they often become really dangerous again.
Also: Real – far behind FC Barcelona in the Spanish championship – is a different Real when the anthem of the Champions League is played. Then the experienced strategists around Benzema, Modric and Kroos use every opportunity to dominate the opponent.
Bellingham coming? “New Real” is taking shape
But of course they also recognized in the Spanish metropolis that the performance of those mentioned cannot be expected indefinitely. Real’s current team will probably not often try to be crowned kings of Europe with this line-up. Kroos and Modric are to extend their expiring contracts by a year each until 2024.
According to media reports, Jude Bellingham is already in the starting blocks as the successor for central midfield. Real should also show interest in Bayern left-back Alphonso Davies. But that’s music for the future. First of all, the “old generals” of the Spanish record champions want to show once again that Manchester City in 2023 is also vulnerable.