Real Madrid face Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City this Tuesday in a highly anticipated Champions League clash, with questions looming over how they will manage to stop Erling Haaland. The Norwegian powerhouse has been in stellar form, with seven goals in his last eight matches across all competitions. With Real Madrid’s defence crumbling due to multiple injuries, Haaland will be aiming to capitalize on their defensive weaknesses.
Injury Woes Leave Madrid’s Defence Vulnerable
Real Madrid, the 15-time Champions League winners, have been plagued by injuries to key defensive players. The long-term absences of Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao have already weakened the backline, but things have worsened with Antonio Rudiger, David Alaba, and Lucas Vazquez all picking up new injuries. To make matters worse, veteran Nacho left the club in the summer, leaving Madrid short at the back as they head into this crucial tie.
Despite Madrid’s lack of winter transfers to strengthen their squad, manager Carlo Ancelotti has remained resolute, stating that his team must “bear out” this difficult situation.
Defensive Issues Persist Despite Attacking Stars
Ancelotti is still working to find the right balance between defence and attack, especially after the high-profile arrival of Kylian Mbappe last summer. When Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham, and Rodrygo Goes start together, Madrid have often struggled defensively. However, in their recent 1-1 La Liga draw against Atletico Madrid, the attacking quartet demonstrated a strong defensive work ethic, tracking back to support the team.
This commitment to defensive discipline has not always been present. During a 3-2 Copa del Rey win against Leganes, a disagreement between veteran midfielder Luka Modric and Vinicius highlighted the need for more defensive contribution from the wingers. Ancelotti sided with Modric, and Vinicius appeared to take note of the criticism.
Improvement Despite Challenges
Although Madrid’s defensive issues have been evident throughout the season—culminating in a 5-2 thrashing by Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup—Ancelotti has praised his team’s resilience. Mbappe, Vinicius, and Bellingham have made significant strides in tracking back and contributing to the defensive effort. The team’s performance against Atletico Madrid was a marked improvement from earlier in the season, with a newfound sense of commitment in their play.
Despite Aurelien Tchouameni’s penalty concession in the Atletico match, the French midfielder is expected to retain his place at centre-back alongside Raul Asencio, the young Spanish defender who has been thrust into regular action due to the club’s injury crisis. Asencio’s performance in this high-stakes game against Haaland will be one of the toughest tests of his young career.
A Makeshift Defence Against Haaland
Real Madrid’s makeshift defence will face a major challenge in stopping Haaland, who has proven to be a constant threat in front of goal. However, Ancelotti remains hopeful that his team can rise to the occasion, especially with the second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu, where they have the advantage of home support.
With Federico Valverde potentially filling in at right-back following Vazquez’s injury, Madrid will need all their defensive ingenuity and tactical discipline to neutralize Manchester City’s attacking firepower. Ancelotti will be hoping his team can avoid a repeat of the heavy defeats suffered against Barcelona and compete strongly in the Champions League knockout stages.