The Real Madrid side that were beaten 5-1 by Manchester City in the Champions League semi-final last season have undergone a major upgrade in midfield since being demolished at the Etihad.
But while the arrival of Jude Bellingham is good news for Carlo Ancelotti, the Madrid coach is missing his world-class goalkeeper and has only just got his best defender back.
So is this a better or worse Madrid than the Madrid that left Etihad with its tail between its legs last season?
Real Madrid were defeated 5-1 by Manchester City in the semi-finals last season
Carlo Ancelotti’s side have undergone an overhaul in midfield after the heavy defeat to Man City
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The keeper
Speaking on Spanish radio a few weeks ago, former Spain and Real Madrid goalkeeper Santi Canizares called Thibaut Courtois: “not just the best goalkeeper in the world right now, but the best I have ever seen.”
Last season, despite the 4-0 scoreline, the Belgian was Madrid’s best player in the second leg.
Having just recovered from a torn cruciate ligament in his left knee, he now has a torn meniscus in his right knee and will therefore miss the match.
Ukraine goalkeeper Andriy Lunin will replace him. He has had a good season by keeping Chelsea loanee Kepa Arrizabalaga out of the team.
But no one can replace Courtois.
Balance: Net loss
Andriy Lunin will start in goal for Real Madrid, but is not at the same level as Thibaut Courtois
The defense
Eder Militao is also missing from the starting XI in the first leg.
He was in poor form ahead of last season’s clash with City, but he remains Real Madrid’s best defender. He is back from a groin tear, but has only played a few minutes and will therefore not start.
In the center of Madrid’s defense, Antonio Rudiger holds everything together. He was brilliant in the first leg against Erling Haaland last season, but was left out of the second leg when Ancelotti went with his favorite duo Militao and David Alaba (also currently injured).
Next to Rudiger is Nacho, a former Spain international, but still the weakest of Madrid’s four central defenders.
At right back Dani Carvajal is playing the best football of his career and at left back Ferland Mendy is solid and highly rated by Anclelotti who didn’t have him last season.
Balance sheet: break even – no Militao and Alaba but Mendy, Rudiger and Carvajal are playing well.
Antonio Rudiger will try to keep Erling Haaland quiet again and keep the defense together
Right back Dani Carvajal is currently playing the best football of his career for Real Madrid
The midfield
Bellingham has brought goals, assists and energy to a midfield that looked tired and swamped last season.
He plays at the top of a diamond and is La Liga’s player of the season. He will help Madrid at both ends of the pitch with lung-busting runs in City’s attack, and an attacking threat that will help them offer something more than just Vinicius in attack. .
Toni Kroos will be the second name on Ancelotti’s midfield team sheet. He was excellent and the only question is where he plays.
If he plays in the starting line-up, Aurelien Tchouameni will miss out, while Fede Valverde and Eduardo Camavinga will play on either side. If Tchouameni plays as a holder, Camavinga may have to start on the bench, where he will have Luka Modric for company.
The Croatian has only started three Champions League games this season but is still a great option to have in reserve.
Balance: Net profit
Jude Bellingham has brought goals, assists and energy to a midfield that looked tired last year
Toni Kroos has been excellent this season, the only question being where he plays
The attack
Karim Benzema moved to Saudi Arabia last season and the question is how much he is missed.
Last year he was a notch below his extraordinary 2021-2022 season and so his absence wasn’t as felt as it could have been. But he remains a world-class player when he is no longer at the club, and Madrid’s most orthodox centre-forward is now 34-year-old Joselu.
He has had a good year with fourteen goals, but Ancelotti usually uses him as a plan B.
Madrid now play with Vinicius and Rodrygo as a very wide front two, leaving a central space that Bellingham then fills from the top of midfield. When it works it’s spectacular, but against the better teams there is a feeling that Madrid have a void where a centre-forward should be.
Kylian Mbappe will add more teeth to the attack next season, but for now they will have to hope that the brilliant Vinicius can perform better than last season against City.
He scored a spectacular opener for Madrid in the first leg but spent much of the match in Kyle Walker’s top pocket.
Balance: Net loss – Madrid is caught between the Benzema and Mbappé eras.
Real Madrid hopes Vinicius Junior can perform better against Man City this season
Rodrygo joins Vinicius in wide forward roles, giving Bellingham space to attack centrally
The couch
Ancelotti had Eden Hazard for company on the bench in Madrid last season. Of course he didn’t come over. Current PSG reserve Marco Asensio was usually the impact sub; there wasn’t much more.
This year things are different.
The arrival of Bellingham makes Modric a strong option from the bench. And the presence of former City youngster Brahim Diaz means Ancelotti will fizz late in games. The 24-year-old always impresses when introduced and will have the added motivation of facing his former club.
In Joselu Real Madrid also guaranteed impact. The journeyman hasn’t let anyone down this season and will be the focus of the attack when used.
Luka Modric has become a strong option from the bench following the arrival of Bellingham
