Ancelotti's Firm Decision Hours Before the Derby Will Have Consequences, a Protagonist

One of Real Madrid's most important commitments of the current season is approaching, on which a good part of their competitive prospects depend. At stake is continuity in the Champions League, one of the two tournaments marked as must-win in the Valdebebas offices. The other is LaLiga, whose leadership is further away than ever after the defeat against Real Betis in the Andalusian capital.

But Real Madrid must now forget the bad feelings from that match and focus on the first 'euroclassic' of these two weeks. As expected, Carlo Ancelotti is already making the final tactical calculations and shaping his definitive starting eleven: the Reggiolo coach, according to several sources, has already solved it.

The information published by "Relevo" reveals that the central duo chosen by the Italian strategist to face Atlético de Madrid will consist of Antonio Rüdiger and Raúl Asencio. This decision by the Reggiolo coach fits perfectly with the competitive demands presented by the clash to be played at Santiago Bernabéu stadium. But it leaves another central defender available to the transalpine coach on the bench: David Alaba.

The benching of the Austrian '4' in the Champions League is due to various reasons. One of the most notable is his current physical condition: recently recovered from injury, the Madrid coaching staff doesn't want to risk a serious injury in a high-tension match. Although David Alaba seems to have competitive clearance after his long recovery, that 'permission' would only apply to starting positions in LaLiga.

A Bigger Plan

Not so in the Champions League, where Carlo Ancelotti seems to have no doubts: Antonio Rüdiger and Raúl Asencio, perhaps the two most in-form Madrid defenders right now, deserve to start. This decision by the merengue coach affects not only the present of the Canarian '35', but it could also have significant implications in the negotiations about his future in the European elite.

Given the excellent results he has delivered since joining the first team, the Valdebebas offices are clear that he deserves a renewal. The current contract of Raúl Asencio ends in the summer of 2026 and the interest he has sparked in several of Europe's top clubs would anticipate some offers for him.

Although timid, these approaches are not well received by the executives led by Florentino Pérez. Because they would endanger the roadmap established for the coming seasons for the defensive line: the merengue leaders do not consider it necessary to make large investments in that area. Especially considering the presence of Asencio himself in the first team and other more advanced pupils from La Fábrica like Jacobo Ramón or Joan Martínez.

The doubts about Raúl Asencio's renewal have been a constant for several weeks, not only due to the interest of several clubs in acquiring his football services. Real Madrid's first offer would have been rejected, but his starting position in the Champions League could change the young Canarian central defender's opinion regarding his future at the white club.