A Real Madrid reporter admits he is ‘freaking out’ over a line-up that Carlo Ancelotti has considered against Arsenal in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
Madrid are looking to overturn a 3-0 defeat from the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie at the Emirates Stadium last week.
In the build-up to Wednesday’s second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu, Jude Bellingham was adamant that he and his Madrid teammates are confident of staging another huge Champions League comeback against Mikel Arteta’s side.
However, COPE’s Real Madrid correspondent, Miguel Angel Diaz, admits he is concerned after being told about a defensive line-up that Ancelotti has worked with in training before facing Arsenal.
Speaking on COPE’s El Partidazo, Diaz said: ‘I just received an eleven that I’m freaking out about.
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‘I don’t know if it will be the right one, but I get the message that tomorrow Madrid could play with Asencio at right back, Alaba at left back, Tchouameni and Rudiger, a central pairing; that Ceballos would play with Valverde in the double pivot, plus the four up front: Rodrygo, Bellingham, Vinicius and Mbappe.’
Raul Asencio, who partnered Antonio Rudiger in central defence in the first leg against Arsenal last week, has started just one game at right-back for Madrid this season.
Meanwhile, Aurelien Tchouameni, who was suspended for the first leg at the Emirates last Tuesday, has started 16 games as a centre-back this season but the 25-year-old is viewed primarily as a defensive midfielder.
Meanwhile, another COPE reporter, Paco Gonzalez, believes Luka Modric will keep his place in Madrid’s midfield.
‘I’m a little surprised with the line-up Miguelito has given, very surprised,’ Gonzalez said.
‘A message said that maybe there were three centre-backs, but then who would take the wings? You can say Valverde on the right wing as a wing-back, but it’s true that in these comebacks there are always some crazy line-ups.
‘When Real Madrid came back from 5-1 down against Borussia Moenchengladbach, they played up front with Valdano, Santillana, Butragueno and Juanito, although Juanito had to drop back to midfield because there was no room up front .
‘They were 2-0 up in the 70th minute, and he brought on Cholo, another striker , and took off a defender, and the other two goals came with Maceda up front.
‘I don’t know the line-up he [Ancelotti] has in mind, and I don’t really believe Ceballos will play and Modric won’t.’
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