As Real Madrid prepare for the UEFA Champions League round of 16 clash with city rivals Atletico Madrid, the defending champion will have to play the game without Jude Bellingham.
Jude Bellingham will miss the first leg at Santiago Bernebeu due to suspension. Though Madrid have played without the Englishman in the past, the injury suffered by Dani Ceballos means Ancelotti has to make some tweak to his squad.
Ceballos joined Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao on the sidelines, and Ancelotti will have to setup his team in a new dimension against Diego Simeone’s Atletico.
However, Carlo Ancelotti has insisted that Bellingham’s absence will not change the way his team play their football.
Real Madrid’s English midfielder #05 Jude Bellingham (Photo by DAMIEN MEYER/AFP via Getty Images)
” I don’t think it’s going to change the way we play. I don’t think it’s going to change much. We have to keep in mind that the players who have rested could have the opportunity tomorrow: Asencio, Camavinga… We have to look at these kinds of things and nothing more. We’re not going to reinforce the midfield or take off a striker. We have to keep the same idea.”
Another huge worry for Ancelotti is the fitness of Valverde. The Uruguayan has been used as a right-back in recent weeks, but has missed their last three games through a muscle injury, but his involvement has coincided with a significant improvement defensively.
He trained on Tuesday evening, but is expected to start.
“He trained individually yesterday and felt good. Today he will train with the team and after training we will make the decision on whether he can play or not.” Ancelotti explained.
“Lucas Vazquez,” was his response when asked who would play right-back if Valverde was not deemed fit, with Raul Asencio deemed the other alternative.
Speaking of how Ancelotti will set his team up against Atletico, it seems certain that Asencio will be back in at centre-back alongside Antonio Rudiger, with Aurelien Tchouameni in midfield.
Without Bellingham, Ceballos or Valverde, it seems likely the Frenchman will be accompanied by two of Brahim Diaz, Luka Modric, Eduardo Camavinga or Arda Guler.
