Leader of La Liga, Real Madrid travels to Villarreal this Saturday (4:15 p.m.). A last test before his visit to the Parc des Princes in the Champions League.
This is the mock exam for los Blancos. Real Madrid are in the hunt for a 14th European crown, and for the knockout stages of the Champions League which awaits it (February 15 and March 9), the roles of prey and predator can easily be exchanged with the Paris Saint Germain. In France, we can see it well: PSG did not calmly attack 2022 before this first big turn of the year. What about Real, six points ahead of its runner-up in La Liga, who goes to Villarreal (6th in La Liga) three days before the first leg in Paris? State of play.
Collectively ready since December
Between the end of October and mid-December, Real won 10 straight wins in all competitions. It didn’t take long for Carlo Ancelotti, back last summer on the merengue bench, to find the right formula built on the legacy of Zinedine Zidane. Real is this 4-3-3 and its eternal midfield: Casemiro in front of the defense, Toni Kroos as regulator and Luka Modric as conductor. A trio that weighs three Champions Leagues in a row (2016 to 2018). In this Real cru 2021-22, either the automation already existed, or they were quickly installed.
SEE ALSO – Benzema’s goal against Barça in the Spanish Super Cup semi-final on January 12 (3-2)
Since his return from injury in October, French international Ferland Mendy has hardly ever left the starting lineup. On his left lane, he has forged a high-flying relationship with Vinicius (21), who has gone from nugget to confirmed star. “His individual quality in one against one, we knew it, we knew that in dribbling and in speed, he was very strong. But what surprises everyone is his ability to score, to be decisive when he has no opportunities to shine in his strong point.Congratulated Ancelotti after the Brazilian’s winning goal against Sevilla on November 28 (2-1). “Today, it is no longer the same player“, marveled Benzema in the columns of France Football last January. Enough to make him the worthy lieutenant of the French, catalyst of the Madrid offensive game.
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In defence, Vinicius’ Brazilian compatriot, Éder Militão (24), is experiencing the same upward trajectory. It helps to grow next to David Alaba, who assumes his status as a manager at his new club after ten seasons at Bayern Munich. Real feared after Ramos and Varane? Doubts have been brushed aside, and when there is a flaw, it is two other hands, those of Thibaut Courtois, which make Madrid’s cages an almost untouchable bastion (3 goals conceded in 6 League of champ).
Inter put under glass and already a trophy
More than impressive, Real looked terrifying on December 7th. He received Inter Milan on the last day of the C1 group stage, and only needed a draw to secure first place in the group. Without their injured captain Benzema, the Merengue overpowered the Italian champion and leader of Serie A (2-0). Italian midfielder Nicolo Barella will end up freaking out and be sent off after a tough exchange with Militão on the hour mark.Sometimes we don’t press high enough, but with a low defensive block we are fine, we are comfortable. Sometimes we have to go down to defend in our camp, it’s not very aesthetic, but it works wellSatisfied Ancelotti. A game plan that would frustrate PSG, fond of wide open spaces.
“These players always sacrifice themselves in the same way, they don’t believe they are the most beautiful. »
Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid coach
And against the big guys, Real knows how to do it: it has beaten Inter Milan twice as well as the four other La Liga clubs that make up the top 5 (Sevilla, Betis, Barcelona, Atlético). And as that was not enough, he went to offer himself a trophy in January, the Spanish Super Cup. In the semi-finals, a pumped-up Barça came up against a resourceful Real (3-2 after extra time). In the final, on January 16, Athletic Club almost did not exist (2-0). On the defensive side,the players finally understood what I wanted“savored Ancelotti. “These players always sacrifice themselves in the same way, they do not believe that they are the most beautiful. And it’s true, they are not“, added a proud and joking Ancelotti.
Slack in February, Benzema not 100%?
But then, is this Real Madrid untouchable? No, and his latest outings have proven it. There was this incredible lack of realism in La Liga on January 23 against Elche, who scored on their only 2 shots on target (3 shots in total). Real harvested (23 shots, 8 on target) and was trailing 2-0 ten minutes from the end before snatching the point from a draw (2-2). Then there was this elimination in the quarter-finals of the King’s Cup in Bilbao, on the lawn of Athletic (1-0). Logic given the face of the meeting. “The pressure that Athletic put on us was very heavy, I think that was the key“Judged Ancelotti, who regretted the absence of Benzema, injured in the left thigh, to oxygenate his team in possession of the ball.
SEE ALSO – The summary of Athletic Club-Real Madrid in the quarter-final of the Copa del Rey on February 3 (1-0)
Since then, Real have recovered against Granada on February 6 (1-0), with a score that does not reflect total domination (24 shots, 11 on target). “I believe that this bad passage is over“, reassured Ancelotti, who continues to live without “KB Nueve”, author of 17 goals and 7 assists in 21 La Liga matches. Will he now be at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday? The vagueness reigns. If so, then PSG will have to outdo themselves to thwart a team that is solid in all aspects of the game and experienced in major events. Especially since with six points ahead of Sevilla and thirteen over Betis, Real can see coming to the league. It remains to be seen if Villarreal, 6th in La Liga, can plant the seed of doubt in Madrid’s heads this Saturday. It could be a nice boost for Paris from the Yellow Submarine coach, a certain Unai Emery.
