Ancelotti Will Surprise With His Experiment, Unexpected Change in the Starting Eleven

Real Madrid faces a challenging knockout round against Manchester City. Carlo Ancelotti's players arrive at the Etihad Stadium after a disappointing 1-1 draw in the Madrid classic, with many absences in defense. Lucas Vázquez's injury is undoubtedly a significant change in the possible starting line-up for the Merengue team.

Since the absence due to the physical ailment of Curtis's '17' was confirmed, expectations about his replacement at right-back have sparked multiple debates. The most prominent name mentioned in this regard is Fede Valverde, as the '8' enjoys a very important andreliable versatility on the right flank. But placing the Uruguayan midfielder in that position leaves a big problem.

Because the right side of Madrid's defense is strengthened at the cost of losing his significant contributions in the engine room. That would be a top-level that Carlo Ancelotti, especially in the first leg of the round of 16 at the Etihad Stadium, couldn't afford. As things stand, the information at this time points to a replacement as varied as it is unexpected.

According to Miguel Ángel Díaz, the Reggiolo coach would have tested Ferland Mendy as a right-back. The competitive rhythm of the French '23' this season isn't the best, but Carlo Ancelotti seems to trust him to take on that position with a switched foot, far from his zone. With this arrangement revealed by the COPE journalist, some changes occur in the rest of the starting eleven.

Unexpected Changes

With Ferland Mendy at right-back, the opposite side of Madrid's defense would be occupied by Fran García. The Castilian-Manchegan '20' was a starter during the Madrid classic, and his performance doesn't seem to have disappointed the Merengue coaching staff. Meanwhile, Fede Valverde would return to the midfield to manage the team's play and keep the block organized in his natural position.

The reorganization of the full-backs at Real Madrid could also lead to a change in the composition of the defensive axis for the match against Manchester City. Everything points to Raúl Asencio being one of the chosen ones for that commitment, but the doubt lies in the choice of the player who would join him in that important place.

The first forecasts point to Aurélien Tchouaméni as the footballer chosen by Carlo Ancelotti to perform those functions. His good performance during the second half of the Madrid classic, key to maintaining the 1-1, could have left him as the first option to repeat in the same position this season.

But the possibility of his return to the pivot, where he truly performs as many expect, means that Jacobo Ramón has remote chances of starting alongside Raúl Asencio. That central duo was already seen during the Copa del Rey quarterfinals, although it left mixed feelings due to the penalty caused by the youth player.