No one not called Atlético Madrid has managed to beat Real this season, except for the Warriors Diego Simeone they were undefeated before the punitive expedition Carlo Ancelotti only Betis, Rayo Vallecano and Sevilla have drawn.
On Saturday, the "Royal Club" took perhaps a key step towards the title in La Liga, because they played with the first "runner-up" Girona (4:0) and escaped it by five points, while Barcelona is even 10 behind after the setback against Granada. And everything would seem like a fairy tale if the legendary Italian expert didn't have big headaches all season due to injuries to the main players.
Before the season even started, he tore his ACL Thibaut Courtois, and after him they experienced the same injuries Eder militao i David Alaba. Lately there hasn't been either Antonio Ridiger, so nine days ago against Atlético, they formed a pair of stoppers for the first time Dani Carvajal and Naco.
It wasn't the end of his troubles either - Naćo wasn't ready for Girona either, so he "played" the stopper. Aurelien Chuameni, and the best player and scorer of Real this season was injured in that match, Jude Bellingham. The Englishman should be absent for three weeks due to a wrist injury, and the first match he will miss is tonight's visit to Leipzig in the round of 16 of the Champions League. He didn't even travel to the east of Germany, but he did Marco Roze, who was his coach at Borussia Dortmund, is preparing as if Bellingham will miraculously appear on the field.
- Until I see that he is not in the starting line-up, I will not believe that Jude is not playing. I know very well how eager he is to always be on the field and that he always refuted the doctors' forecasts - said the head coach of Leipzig.
Real's goals are always the biggest, Ancelotti doesn't hide that.
- I love what I do and where I work, I am satisfied with the team I have. And now we return to the competition that this club loves the most and always wants to win. But we have to be careful, because Leipzig is a powerful team, they have quality and speed. That's why we have to be at the highest level - said Carlito.
German journalists asked the only expert who has won the Champions League four times about the 34-year-old's great form Toni Kroos.
- It's hard to say that this is his best season, because every season was his best. Now he uses the energy of his young teammates brilliantly, and his pass is as precise as it was 10 years ago - said Ancelotti.
Due to the strike of the airport staff in Leipzig, the people from Madrid arrived in Erfurt by charter flight, from where a 160-kilometer bus journey awaited them. But they had a traffic accident on the highway, because a car "cut" their way. Fortunately, no one was hurt.
Along with Ancelotti, Kroos was also present at the press conference, who had an interesting answer to the question of whether he is returning to Bayern:
- There are many questions about my future. I'm glad someone wants me in their club, but it's definitely not going to happen.
The second game of the evening will be played by the defending champion Manchester City against the team that kicked out its city rival from the elite - Copenhagen.
"Citizens" will try to become the first team after Real to defend the title, and Pep Guardiola to reach Ancelotti with four cups and escape from the division of 2nd place Zinedine Zidane i To Bob Paisley.
But first he wants to win at "Parken", where he drew in the 2022/2023 season (0:0).
- Copenhagen was in one of the strongest groups with Bayern, United and Galatasaray and reached the round of 16. The first match of the round of 16 is always complicated, and it will be the same in Denmark. I'm very happy with how the team looks lately, how the guys are running, training every day. And they are still hungry for this trophy, regardless of the fact that they have already won it - emphasized the Catalan expert.
Bonus video:
