Real Madrid – Celta Vigo: Madrilenians who want to get back up in the Copa del Rey

Madridistas will have to stay up late this Thursday, January 16. The Coupe du Roi, coupled with its special schedules, takes advantage of the absence of European competitions to regain its rights.

During these round of 16 matches, Real Madrid will welcome the Galicians from Vigo (9:30 p.m.) to their home ground. It’s simple, since 2006, the latter have not managed to emerge victorious from the Bernabéu. A sort of curse that Claudio Giraldez’s men will try to ward off.

“Irregularity. » A term that has become a nickname for Celta as this team has two different faces. We are talking about a team that can stand up to FC Barcelona (2-2) before losing the following week against the little Catalan brother (Espanyol). Two opposites giving a team with a soft stomach, in big difficulty on the outside. His snatch victory (3-2) in the 92nd minute during the round of 32 of the Copa Del Rey against Real Club Racing de Santander demonstrated his inability to give himself an easy match.

Nevertheless, it proves necessary to take into account the fact of injury which gangrenes the The Celtics. Because, even if Claudio Giraldez will be able to count on the return of serial scorer Borja Iglesias as well as former Lille player Jonathan Bamba, the list of absentees remains long. From defender Ristic to striker Iago Aspas and midfielder Jailson, no position is spared.

As for the Spanish capital, how can we talk about Real Madrid without mentioning this debacle last Sunday against the Blaugranas ? A meeting absorbing the attention of the general public and the media, who continue to lynch Ancelotti’s men. A sort of bright light eclipsing the fact that this is the only defeat for the Madrilenians in their last ten matches!

So no, the Merengues are not walking in the middle of the desert, on the contrary. Everyone seems concerned, including the usual substitutes who for the most part shone during the previous round, simply inflicting a little hand at Deportiva Minera (5-0). A turnover embodied by the first call-up of young goalkeeper Sergio Mestre, or the return to the group of full-back Lorenzo Aguado. Note, however, the absences of Courtois as well as Vallejo, in addition to the long-term injured (Carvajal, Militao, Alaba).

Claudio Giraldez does not seek to match the locals, but rather to surpass them by being ambitious in the game. We are convinced that we will have a very good match », he indicated at a press conference, a sentence demonstrating the confidence of this team which wishes to maneuver the Real Madrid players by making them “run after the ball”, while “minimizing their offensive potential”.

A heavy task entrusted to the usual 4-2-3-1, made up of the now double pivot type Ilaix Moriba-Fran Beltrán whose automatisms are growing day by day.

On the side of Real Madrid, rightly annoyed at the press conference in the face of questions from journalists, Don Carlo only wants one thing: “to move forward”, “to start well” and above all “to play well”. The Italian technician, however, was not choosy, the latter proving fully aware of his team’s faults and recognizing against the Catalans “a bad defensive match on all lines”.

Errors that he does not wish to repeat this evening, like the changes made to his starting lineup. If Lunin will start the game, cut requires; Asencio, Fran Garcia, Ceballos and Brahim should also start the match. Moreover, beyond wanting to stay in the competition, the White House is, for sure, keen to respond to criticism on the ground by relaunching a new dynamic.