By 90min | Created at 2024-11-07 17:33:09 | Updated at 2024-11-15 07:27:48
1 week ago
It's been a while since Real Madrid entered full meltdown mode, but Tuesday night served up a big indication that things are not all well at the Bernabeu.
There's been plenty of discontent in the Blancos camp after their hefty defeat to Barcelona in El Clasico and Vinicius Junior's snub in the Ballon d'Or, but it got even worse in the Champions League as Milan rocked up at the home of the Spanish and European title holders and ran out 3-1 winners.
It's hard to know where Madrid go from here as Carlo Ancelotti continues to try to fit square pieces into round holes, but where did it unravel for his side as they slumped to a second defeat in a row?
Madrid have conceded seven goals in two games / Soccrates Images/GettyImages
Madrid kept the most clean sheets of any La Liga team last season, registering 21 shutouts from 38 games, but that solidity has totally evaporated in recent weeks.
There are some things they can do little about right now. Dani Carvajal's injury has left Lucas Vazquez as the only option at right-back and he was eaten alive on Tuesday by Rafael Leao, but he wasn't the only defender who completely bottled it in the face of Milan's vibrant attack.
Los Blancos fell behind to a Malick Thiaw header from a corner, while Andriy Lunin could only palm a Leao shot straight to Alvaro Morata. Both Antonio Rudiger and Eder Militao were shaky, which is particularly odd given how solid they've been in Madrid's recent successes.
The spine of their team completely buckled against the Rossoneri and, given it's not an anomaly after the heavy Barca loss, Ancelotti needs to remind his defence of the necessary basics needed to win games of football.
Vinicius fails in response to Ballon d'Or snub
Vinicius couldn't inspire Madrid / Image Photo Agency/GettyImages
Plenty of eyes have been on Vinicius Junior over the past week or so - his club's reaction to his Ballon d'Or snub has ensured that.
And while the Brazil international did drag Madrid level as he won a penalty and converted it cooly, there were other parts of his game that were lacking. Vinicius didn't press effectively alongside Kylian Mbappe up front and got frustrated as the chances he created went begging, eventually getting booked for a late challenge on Thiaw.
Ultimately the defeat won't rest solely on the 24-year-old's shoulders, but a different type of leadership is clearly needed with Madrid's season in danger of unravelling quickly.
Bellingham still hasn't scored this season / Quality Sport Images/GettyImages
While Mbappe's addition to Madrid's star-studded squad could still prove the right decision, right now a number of players are being shoved into positions that don't serve their best qualities.
Jude Bellingham was a goalscoring phenom this time last year but is yet to hit the back of the net this term, having been played in central midfield, on both wings and up front. The constant switching has hindered the England international, while the rotation has also limited fellow workhorse Federico Valverde.
The Uruguayan's partner even chimed in, insisting he is best played in central areas, though Ancelotti seemed unperturbed when told about the complaints. He risks upsetting a high-profile player, but the Italian has to make a bold formation decision quickly.
Fringe options need to be trusted
Endrick and Guler have been hardly used of late / Anadolu/GettyImages
Since scoring five goals in the second half of their win over Borussia Dortmund in their previous Champions League outing, Madrid have netted just once in their last two games. While there are a number of attacking stars ahead of them in the pecking order, the lack of minutes for both Endrick and Arda Guler has been odd.
The pair have had a combined one minute of action across Madrid's last four matches, but Ancelotti instead turned to Eduardo Camavinga, Dani Ceballos, Ferland Mendy and Rodrygo from his bench against Milan to little avail.
The two prodigious teenagers may not have turned the tide in his side's favour but Ancelotti has to start showing more faith in his youngsters, even if that means sacrificing one of his more established players when it's not working.
