PREVIA – After a far from impeccable start to the season and a clear defeat against LOSC in the Champions League, Real Madrid begins its 9th day of La Liga this evening against Villarreal. The challenge is twofold: regain confidence while distancing Villarreal, a team which could well play spoilsport in La Liga this season.
Although Real Madrid has relatively few absentees, between short (Courtois) and long-term injuries (Alaba, Ceballos, Brahim), slight uncertainties still hover over the group.
A “diminished” group?
Mbappé, whose physical form makes the headlines The Teamis present and expected to start, despite the doubts surrounding his supposed injury which occurred before the match against Lille. Rodrygo and Militao, also uncertain recently, should also be among the starters. Here is the probable XI: Lunin – Carvajal, Rüdiger, Militao, Mendy – Tchouaméni, Valverde, Camavinga, Bellingham – Rodrygo (or Mbappé), Vinicius Jr.
The term “diminished” can also be applied mentally, as the team seemed amorphous last Wednesday. Zero strikes between the 20th and 80th minute against the Mastiffs: a real crossing of the desert. The lack of will, the drop in intensity in efforts and the inability to produce play are not tolerable at Casa Blanca. A victory, in style, against the Yellow Submarine remains the best way to dispel this poor form.
Imperative wake-up call
It is high time for many Madrid players to wake up and re-form a team, rather than seeing 11 individuals simply lined up on the pitch. The Italian coach, also under fire from criticism, is scrutinized for the lack of tactical and collective coherence which is felt in the game.
Opposite, the Groguetscurrently third in La Liga just behind Real Madrid, will come as a whole, determined not to make up the numbers. As Marcelino pointed out in a press conference, his team is hungry and wants more. So beware of Eric Bailly’s teammates, who have always been able to put up a certain resistance to the Merengues, as evidenced by the 4-4 last season or the 3-2 defeat two years ago.
A robust, but permeable submarine
Villarreal, although presenting a team full of potential, has one weak point: defense. In fact, they have conceded a goal in all their matches since the start of the season. Their best player, Ayoze Pérez, will be absent for this match due to injury. On the other hand, Nicolas Pépé seems to be gradually finding his legs in this team, which could give him a crucial role for the next meetings. The numbers speak for themselves: Villarreal conceded 5 goals against FC Barcelona, 3 against Celta de Vigo, and 2 against Atlético de Madrid. This clearly indicates that Real Madrid must press offensively to maximize their chances of success.
The keys to the match will therefore certainly lie in Real’s offensive dynamics and in the face they will show on the pitch. If the team manages to do better than in previous matches against Lille and Atlético de Madrid, where they were behind, it could make the difference. The return of Camavinga should bring a real plus, as we saw during his last match. The attackers lined up will also have to show personality and understanding, as was the case during the victories against Alavés and Espanyol.
New beginning
Celta de Vigo, Borussia Dortmund, FC Barcelona, Valencia, AC Milan: here is the non-exhaustive list of teams that Real Madrid will face after the match against Villarreal. Suffice to say that the coming weeks will be decisive in regaining confidence and launching a series of positive results. Following the recent defeat and the echoes of the group believing that they have “hit rock bottom”, a reconsideration is inevitable for a team which has been struggling to find itself since August 18. To avoid getting bogged down in a negative and unstable media whirlwind, it is imperative to start again on solid foundations and bring more clarity to the game.
Real Madrid will not be able to string together all of the matches mentioned above while maintaining its current level of performance. If he wants to hope to come out with three points every time, he will have to find a new balance, more stable and coherent.
Finally, this meeting against Villarreal could well mark a turning point for Carlo Ancelotti’s men. With a victory, the team could not only regain its confidence, but also lay a solid foundation to approach future challenges with more serenity.
Walid Soltani
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