Real Madrid defends second place looking at the Bridge
The whites, without options in the League, visit a Cádiz in need before facing Chelsea to certify the semifinal in the Champions League
MADRID, 14 Abr. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Real Madrid visits Cádiz this Saturday (9:00 p.m.), on matchday 29 of LaLiga Santander, with the aim of not jeopardizing their second place in the table, now without any real title options, although surely with rotations in the ‘ eleven’ to manage efforts ahead of the return against Chelsea in the Champions League this Tuesday, while the Andalusians will seek to extend their positive balance to increase their short ‘cushion’ on relegation, weighed down by the latest sanctions.
The whites push again and reach an optimal level at the key moment of the season, with the Champions League as the great asset of the course. Carlo Ancelotti’s men put a foot and a half in the semifinal – it would be the eighth in the last 10 seasons – of the Champions League this Wednesday. The whites beat Chelsea 2-0 in a serious and hard-fought match, which came to a close, after the ‘blues’ were left with one less around the 60th minute.
In the defeat (2-3) against Villarreal on the last day, at the Santiago Bernabéu, a Real Madrid team with rotations in the ‘eleven’ was overconfident and further distanced themselves from Barcelona, now 13 points above the meringues. There was a lack of motivation and commitment to a competition in which the team seems to have already thrown in the towel before the impossible undertaking of being a rival for the title.
For this reason, Ancelotti, who does not want to see another league ‘bump’, asked to “respect” the League, although they face this duel more as a respite and break in their European desire. “We have to do our best, fight until the end, to finish second. The players know very well that this shirt requires that kind of attitude,” recalled the Italian coach.
And it is that defending second place is now the most important incentive for madridistas in the domestic competition, with only two points ahead of Atlético, third, in the table. And preserving their status as runners-up involves improving their performance away from the Santiago Bernabéu, since they could only draw in their last two league outings. If they do not win, they would go three games without winning away from home for the first time since the 2018-2019 season.
Thus, the madridistas urge victory to maintain the good feelings shown in the first leg against Chelsea, and incidentally continue the mission of delaying the blaugrana alirón and keeping the rojiblancos at bay from behind. Furthermore, with his mind set on the crucial duel at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday, Ancelotti would introduce significant changes to his ‘eleven’ against Cádiz.
Some rotations will be forced, since neither Vinicius nor Kroos will travel to Cádiz as a precaution, after finishing the European duel they are both muscular overloads. This could open the way to Hazard’s ownership, although Rodrygo and Benzema would repeat in the ‘eleven’, closing the door on the Belgian, at least from the start. As against Villarreal, Ceballos and Tchouaméni would form the double pivot, perhaps accompanied by Valverde, and Asensio as a false midfielder acting as a theoretical ‘hook’.
CÁDIZ IS LIVING A GREAT MOMENT, ALTHOUGH SUFFOCATED BY THE DESCENT
In front will be a Cádiz that is experiencing a sweet moment in the League, with only one defeat in the last six games. A very positive balance with a view to fighting with optimism the fierce fight for permanence. With Elche sunk, up to ten teams, on nine points, fight for a red-hot salvation. Cádiz, with four ‘cushion’ points on the red zone, is one of the candidates to be saved, aware that it is the best time to face a Real Madrid with their minds in London.
“We are in a moment where we can look any rival in the face, even Real Madrid. And with the necessary humility to compete, attack, run and be able to win duels. And at home the fans make you stronger and more complete”, he stated Sergio González at a press conference. “We have had a very good journey. We have a good base, we compete well, with soul and character, but Madrid can make your good moment disappear in a snap,” he warned.
But the people from Cádiz arrive with the satisfaction of having won the regional derby against Real Betis (0-2), in their first victory since the end of February. And to achieve the goal of playing the third year in a row in ‘First’. Precisely since they returned to the top flight, Cádiz have scored points in three of their five league games against the Whites (1 win, 2 draws and 2 losses).
A good moment that the Andalusians have been enjoying since the World Cup break. And it is that from there they have added 20 of their 31 points, a balance for which they would go ninth in a hypothetical post-World Cup table, only four points less than Real Madrid. Cádiz has dropped Ledesma and Carcelén due to suspension, as well as the injured Garrido, Zaldua, Cala, Ocampo and Escalante.
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Multimedia content (graphics): Statistics of Cádiz-Real Madrid of LaLiga Santander 2022-2023
Download url: https://www.epdata.es/estadisticas-previa-cadiz-real-madrid-…
DATASHEET.
–POSSIBLE ALIGNMENTS:
CADIS: David Gil; Vine, Luis Hernandez, Fali, Hawthorn; Alcaraz, St. Emeterius, Bongonda, Nephew; Field and Guardiola.
REAL MADRID: Courtois; Lucas Vazquez, Rudiger, Alaba, Nacho; Tchouameni, Ceballos, Valverde; Asensio, Benzema and Rodrygo.
–REFEREE: Gil Manzano (C. Extremadura)
–STADIUM: Nuevo Mirandilla.
–TIME: 9:00 p.m./Movistar LaLiga.