Real Madrid needs to forget the derby at the Bernabéu refuge
Carlo Ancelotti's men receive the bottom player, who has never scored points in the Madrid fiefdom, after the tough elimination from the Cup at the Metropolitano
MADRID, 20 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Real Madrid receives UD Almería this Sunday on matchday 21 of LaLiga EA Sports 2023-2024, a duel in which the Madridistas need to forget the elimination in the Cup at the hands of Atlético de Madrid in the embrace of the Santiago Bernabéu with a victory that It would boost them to the lead and put pressure on Girona, while the bottom team wants a boost in a cursed scenario for the Andalusians and to scratch the doubts that the whites may have.
The Madrid fiefdom welcomes an injured merengue team this Sunday (9:00 p.m.). The whites return home after lifting the Spanish Super Cup in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) last week and being defeated in the round of 16 of the Cup against the red and whites (4-2) in the eighth consecutive overtime in a single-match tie between the two teams from the capital.
The colchoneros took revenge and eliminated Ancelotti's men, who will no longer be able to retain the cup title. The Metropolitano choked Real Madrid again, which repeated a blot, like in September in LaLiga, in a mattress fiefdom that already has 26 games without losing.
Despite suffering only two defeats so far this year, the meringues do not want their goodbye to the cup tournament to translate into instability and uncertainty in a domestic championship in which they are second, with 48 points, one behind Girona and with a party less. Therefore, the meringues have the opportunity, against the second worst bottom in history – after 20 League games – to put pressure on Girona, who must win to, in the home of Madrid's victory, continue leading.
The scenario seems ideal for a quick and painless recovery, so as not to make the wound larger. Real Madrid receives an Almería team that has never won at the Bernabéu, having conceded 23 goals in seven defeats, with only 6 goals in favor. And because of this favoritism, and even if he does not have a cup match during the week, Ancelotti could incorporate rotations, leaving an unproductive Vinícius on the bench in the Metropolitano, or even Bellingham, who ended up exhausted in the Cup.
Players like Dani Carvajal or Ferland Mendy could start on the bench, in favor of Lucas Vázquez who returns after injury and Fran García. Toni Kroos and Aurélien Tchouaméni, substitutes in the derby, are aiming for starting positions in LaLiga, while Brahim Díaz and Joselu, who has already accumulated eleven goals this season and has become a reliable alternative in the white attack, await their opportunity on the bench . Once again, there will be doubts in goal, with Kepa as the favorite after Lunin's performance at the Metropolitano.
ALMERÍA, TO GIVE A SURPRISE AT THE BERNABÉU
Taking advantage of this situation, in addition to the possible changes in the merengue eleven, Almería seeks to surprise and scratch at least a draw, in a stadium where it has never won. Gaizka Garitano's men want to achieve a first prestigious domestic victory, after accumulating almost nine months without winning away from the Power House Stadium.
Without much incentive at this point in the season, the Andalusians cling to their good image against the title candidate Girona, drawing 0-0, but even deserving the victory at home. For this reason, they come to the capital ready to complete the most difficult, but successful, work of the year, looking for that impulse that will make them believe in a salvation – now at ten points – almost miraculous, since they are bottom with 6 units.
A game of great difficulty and necessity for an Almería that appeals to heroics, aware that keeping a clean sheet is key, something they have not achieved as a visitor so far this season -1 point out of a possible 30-.
Much more to win than to lose for the people of Almería, who could stand at the Bernabéu with five defenders, with Cesar Montes in doubt. As an option, it could include four midfielders, although the absence of the suspended Baptistao favors the presence of Arribas along with Embarba and Luis Suárez, who would return to the eleven.
DATASHEET.
–POSIBLE ALIGNMENTS:
REAL MADRID: Kepa; Carvajal, Rüdiger, Nacho, Fran García; Tchouaméni, Valverde, Kroos, Bellingham; Rodrygo and Vinícius.
UD ALMERIA: Maximian; Pubil, Kaiky, Chumi, Edgar, Akieme; Robertone, Lopy, Above; Embarba and Luis Suarez.
–REFEREE: Hernández Maeso (C. Las Palmas).
–Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.