- Madrid has started well this season, but the injuries have begun to mount.
- The team that finished just behind Girona in La Liga and qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League
- Carlo Ancelotti’s trophy hunting tips
Real Madrid’s season is not over until the international break in November, but they are already a favorite of many fans worldwide.
The arrival of Jude Bellingham and his subsequent form has helped Los Blancos to second place in Spain’s first division, just two points behind the surprise leader Girona.
The 14-time European Champions have qualified for knockout stages of the Champions League 2023/24 with just two Group C matches remaining. But it’s not been a smooth ride for them.
When international football is on the agenda in November, Madrid needs to get their act together.
The medical department is a mess.
Unfortunately, injuries are a part of football. Injuries are a part of football. Some days can be quiet, while other nights teams may lose their two best long-term players in a matter of minutes.
Madrid’s incompetence with Arda Guler has not helped them. Due to an injury to his knee, the young Turkish international has yet to debut for Madrid. However, the indecision over whether or not he required surgery has delayed his return.
Madrid’s medical chief paid the price when he was dismissed. Now, the club needs professionalism in the background with so many of its first team stars having knee injuries.
Jude Bellingham is in the oxygen cell
Bellingham’s explosive start in Madrid made headlines across Europe, but some of his previous injuries are cause for concern.
Former Borussia Dortmund midfielder has pulled out from the England squad due to a problem with his knee. Bellingham was injured in the past, and missed the last day of BVB’s 2022/23 Bundesliga campaign when they lost the title.
Los Blancos will need to rely on the 20-year old’s form in order to win the trophy in the remaining games of the campaign. Madridistas will have nightmares if Bellingham is absent for a long time. He and his teammates must make sure that he’s as pain-free as they can be.
Find out what they can do to make their forwards score more regularly
Bellingham has been a key player in helping Madrid to bridge the gap between Benzema and their new superstar striker. But he needs more support from his talented wing pair.
Vinicius and Rodrygo, who aren’t naturally strikers, have been forced to play out of their natural position by Ancelotti. They are hardly the only ones in this regard. But they need to curb their lack of aggression and inefficiency in front of the goal.
Vinicius , who sustained a thigh injury while on international duty has outperformed his lowest xG (2.89) to score four La Liga Goals, whereas Rodrygo under-performs with only three goals from a 5.32 xG.
Madrid’s Brazilian pair will be needed when the time comes to help keep Los Blancos on track for a trophy.
Barcelona: Keep on slapping the shade
Where does Gerard Pique go, then?
Former Spain defender claimed Champions League victories at Barcelona are “remembered for ever” and few people will remember Madrid’s triumph in 2022.
He added: “When Madrid wins, it’s just another game.” It won’t even be remembered. The previous one, which happened in 2022.
Who could forget the run in 2022 when the team beat the French champions Paris Saint-Germain and the Premier League giants Manchester City and Chelsea in the knockout stage and a frantic Liverpool in the Final with late goals, drama and all?
Joselu, the Los Blancos forward, saw things differently, calling Pique “envious.”
It is absurd to think that any club would prefer five European titles over 14. Barca, despite having a reasonable position in both the Champions League and domestically, are struggling with consistency and form. Poking the bear further could cause the Barca camp to unravel.
