Ancelotti's Big Surprise in Atlético-Real Madrid Champions League Match, Simeone Doesn't Expect It

Real Madrid Moves Forward in Preparing for the Match Against Atlético de Madrid. The second leg of the Champions League round of 16, to be played at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, has left many areas of analysis at the sports level. The coaching staff led by Carlo Ancelotti is considering the best possible competitive options.

Especially taking into account the nature of the knockout stage and the aggregate score inherited from the clash at Santiago Bernabéu. The Reggiolo coach also recovers one of his most important footballers for this match, a Jude Bellingham who is expected to be a key starter against Atlético de Madrid on Wednesday.

Precisely, the midfield is the big question mark that arises in the starting eleven among the Madrid coaching staff. The debates around the composition of the defense and the forward line have been solved over time, opening a possible area of doubt in the goalkeeping position. The discomfort that Thibaut Courtois has expressed in his right patellar tendon adds possibilities for the starting position of an in-form and ready Andriy Lunin for this competitive challenge.

In any case, the composition of the engine room offers multiple alternatives to Real Madrid's coaching staff. But the option chosen by the Reggiolo coach would involve Tchouaméni, Bellingham, and Brahim Díaz: the Moroccan '21' was already a protagonist during the pre-match, the match, and the post-match. Diego Pablo Simeone's words in the press conference before the match at Santiago Bernabéu marked the beginning of a striking controversy.

Second Chapter

'Cholo' Simeone thought that Carlo Ancelotti wouldn't start with the Málaga attacking midfielder due to Jude Bellingham's absence, something that considerably upset the Madrid midfielder. Hence his celebration right after scoring the second goal: "talk now, talk now". Aside from that clash, Carlo Ancelotti considers that Brahim Díaz played an excellent match at Santiago Bernabéu.

That's why he would have decided to bet on his inclusion in the starting eleven, setting aside the defensive security that would come from having a double pivot formed by Tchouaméni and Camavinga. Carlo Ancelotti understands that Brahim Díaz's organizational and offensive virtues would be essential to overcoming Atlético's resistance and advancing to the Champions League quarterfinals.

This starting position for Brahim Díaz would significantly change his role in Santiago Bernabéu locker room. The former AC Milan footballer has been so far Carlo Ancelotti's 'twelfth man', the first in the coach's rotation scheme. But his good performance warrants a more or less fixed starting position on big occasions that the Reggiolo coach would be about to grant him.

All eyes will be on Brahim Díaz. Not only because of his controversy with Diego Pablo Simeone, but because his performance will determine his place in the Madrid team for the upcoming sports seasons. A good performance could open certain debates in the ideal configuration of Carlo Ancelotti's gala team starting from the 25/26 season.