TNT Sports
Real Madrid return to Champions League clash against Chelsea with 'something different, special' - opinion
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Published 12/04/2023 at 12:26 GMT+1
Real Madrid are well off the pace in La Liga and look all but certain to give up their league trophy to Barcelona this season. However, the world knows that ahead of their first-leg quarter-final match-up against Chelsea on Wednesday evening, the Champions League represents something special for Carlo Ancelotti's men, and they could still consider themselves the favourites.
Lampard wary of 'special' Real Madrid in Champions League quarter-final
Video credit: SNTV
Eurosport Spain’s Felix Martin believes that Real Madrid remain a threat against Chelsea in the Champions League despite their poor league form.
Manager Carlo Ancelotti won last year’s Liga and Champions League with Karim Benzema and co, but this year they have lost their way a little domestically as Barcelona race clear with an almost inevitable victory in the league.
However, Martin believes that Real’s interest and capabilities in European football cannot be discounted ahead of Wednesday's Champions League tie in Madrid.
He explained: “The situation of Real Madrid in La Liga is complicated, it seems that in a certain way they have lost motivation. But you know about the relationship Real Madrid and the Bernabeu have with the Champions League, it is something different, special, with a Real Madrid completely opposite to the one we usually see in domestic competition.”
There are a few selection worries for Ancelotti.
"The only missing player for Real Madrid is Ferland Mendy," Martin said, "which is quite a problem since Ancelotti has been having many issues to find a reliable replacement at left-back".
Tactically, Martin believes Ancelotti may choose to pack the midfield to make sure the tie is under control, even if they have home advantage to exploit.
“On the one hand, it would seem understandable that Ancelotti played with Vinicius, Benzema and Rodrygo or Marco Asensio on the attacking line since, being the first game at the Bernabeu, Real Madrid should make an effort to try to close the tie,” he said.
“But on the other hand, this tie is 180 minutes long and the second game will be at Stamford Bridge, so it would be understandable to me if Ancelotti had more players in the middle as a containment and to maintain control of the game. But of course, these situations can change throughout the game.”
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Ancelotti laughs off rumours of Chelsea return, but 'sad' to see club struggling
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Ancelotti will also be looking towards his two main striking stars to make the difference.
“Without a doubt, Vinicius and Benzema arrive in great form and are the most influential players for Real Madrid," he explained.
Martin suggested that Vinicius may come up against his equal in the form of Reece James, who is “a right-back or right wing-back of enormous quality with great offensive and defensive capacity and very good physical presence.
"I think the Reece James-Vinicius Junior duel is going to be very fun to watch.”
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