Carlo Ancelotti and his team that was unclogged in Real Madrid is under the microscope before their visit to Alaves on Sunday, fighting to get out of a crisis and stay in the La Liga reigning. Los Blancos is four points behind the Barcelona leaders, who go to Leganes on Saturday, and have to bounce back from their 3-0 beat by Arsenal on Tuesday in the Champions League. Madrid welcomes Arsenal on Wednesday during the second stage of this equality, in which they insist in order to be able to return, but by focusing on what they would risk slipping in Vitoria.
Alaves, 17th, fights for the survival of La Liga and despite the status of Madrid as Spanish and European champions, will believe that they will be able to go to the fragile side of Acelotti.
They left 11 goals in the last four games and suffered two consecutive defeats by Arsenal and last weekend at La Liga against Valence.
“I feel responsible for what happened,” admitted Ancelotti after the overwhelming loss of the Emirates.
The defeat of Madrid has led to reports in the Spanish media that they will not keep coach Ancelotti beyond the end of the season, with Xabi Alonso de Bayer Leverkusen, a former Madrid star.
After only two defeats all the competitions last season, this season, Madrid suffered 11.
“Ancelotti plays … for the credibility of his project, and perhaps his position before next season,” wrote Madrid Daily Marca.
Ancelotti can insist that his team works more together against Alaves, criticizing his collection of stars for having tried to make his way individually after the double free kick of Declan Rice for Arsenal.
“We were not capable of a joint reaction, United,” said the coach.
“We tried too much individual movements, and it cost us because we lost our order, and from there, they checked the ball and the result.”
The coach said that his team had struggled throughout the current campaign to defend himself as aness.
“This is something with which we had a problem throughout the season, the difficulty of being a compact block in good times but also in those who are not good,” he added.
Madrid hopes that Dani Ceballos will be able to return to the team for the Alaves match, with the midfielder since February with a leg injury.
The former Arsenal playmaker has found a form this season and his absence further aggravates Madrid’s difficulty to face without the Midskins of the midfield by Toni Kroos, who left last summer.
The return of Aurelien Tchouamed should also help protect the defense, after missing the first leg of the arsenal thanks to the suspension.
Madrid’s goal is a victory to maintain their title defense ambitions, before trying to save their Champions League campaign against Arsenal at Santiago Bernabeu.
Player to watch: Christanus Uche
The Nigeria midfielder played in an attack role for Getafe this season and produced two assists last week to help the side of Jose Bordalas, Thump Valladolid. Powerful presence, Uche helped Getafe move away from danger to 11th row and he will seek to create wreaking havoc on Saturday when they welcome the modest Las Palmas.
Key statistics
3 – Games without victory for Real Madrid in all competitions
14 – shoot for Osasuna this season from 30 league games
232 – Pedri de Barcelona has 232 assists in the last third, more than any other player
Lighting
Friday (all GMT time)
Valencia V Sevilla (1900)
SATURDAY
Real Sociedad v MALLORCA (1200), Getafe against Las Palmas (1415), Celta Vigo against Espanyol (1630), Leganes against Barcelona (1900)
Sunday
Osasuna v Girona (1200), Alaves V Real Madrid (1415), Real Betis V Villarreal (1630), Athletic Bilbao V Rayo Vallecano (1900)
Monday
Atletico Madrid V Valladolid (1900)
(This story has not been published by NDTV staff and is automatically generated from a unionized flow.)
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