- Real Madrid’s attack, led by Mbappe, is potent but their defense is showing vulnerability.
- A recent loss to Valencia and conceding four against Real Sociedad highlight defensive issues.
- Ancelotti links defensive struggles to a more attacking setup post-Mbappe arrival.
- Key midfielder Tchouameni is suspended for Tuesday’s Arsenal Champions League clash.
- Goalkeeper fitness concerns add to Madrid’s defensive worries ahead of the game.
Arsenal Eyeing Vulnerable Real Madrid Defense in Champions League Showdown
Madrid, Spain – Real Madrid’s reputation for attacking prowess, especially with the summer arrival of Kylian Mbappe joining Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham, and Rodrygo Goes, is undeniable. However, a closer look reveals a concerning vulnerability in their defense, a weakness that Arsenal will be keen to exploit when the two giants clash in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday.
Carlo Ancelotti’s typically solid Real Madrid side has shown cracks in their defensive armor recently. This was starkly evident in their surprise 2-1 defeat to Valencia in La Liga on Saturday, a result that widened the gap to league leaders Barcelona to four points. This loss marked their tenth across all competitions this season, a significant increase compared to the mere two defeats they suffered throughout their Spanish and European championship-winning campaign last year.
Ancelotti himself has partly attributed this shift to the arrival of Kylian Mbappe from Paris Saint-Germain. While Mbappe’s addition has undoubtedly provided an extra edge in attack – the French star has already scored 33 goals – it has seemingly come at the cost of defensive stability. The departure of Toni Kroos in the summer, following his retirement, has also been felt, with his composure and precision in midfield now missed.
“This year we are much more effective up front because of the arrival of Mbappe, who has 33 goals, and there is a bit more suffering at the back,” Ancelotti acknowledged last week. “When you have to choose, it can happen… we’re thinking about having this effectiveness and doing a bit more collective work defensively.”
Adding to Ancelotti’s woes, key holding midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni will be suspended for the crucial first leg at the Emirates. Furthermore, the fitness of first-choice goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and his deputy Andriy Lunin is also a concern. Nineteen-year-old Fran Gonzalez made his debut against Valencia, highlighting the potential goalkeeper crisis, although Ancelotti remains hopeful about the availability of Courtois and Lunin for Tuesday. “I think we could have both of them back,” he said after the Valencia defeat.
Ancelotti’s blunt assessment of their defensive issues continued, stating, “Opponents don’t need to work hard to score against us,” a telling remark after Hugo Duro’s 95th-minute winner for Valencia stunned the Santiago Bernabeu. This defeat came just four days after Real Madrid conceded four goals at home against Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey, although they managed to progress to the final with a 5-4 aggregate victory.
The statistics further underscore Real Madrid’s defensive decline. ‘Los Blancos’ have already conceded 31 league goals this season, five more than they did in the entire 2023-24 campaign. Even in the Champions League, defeats by Liverpool, AC Milan, and Lille forced Madrid into the new play-off round, where they ultimately overcame Manchester City 6-3 on aggregate, a tie where Mbappe’s four goals masked some defensive frailties.
While Real Madrid went undefeated in their triumphant Champions League run to Wembley last season, long-term injuries to key defenders Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao have created significant problems for Ancelotti. David Alaba has recently returned from injury but is still working his way back to peak form. Notably, Real Madrid did not make any defensive signings last summer, an area that now appears to be a weakness. Ancelotti has utilized 22-year-old Raul Asencio with reasonable success, but he remains an inexperienced option, while Antonio Rudiger is doing his best to solidify the defense.
Ancelotti will be hoping that his star-studded attack can continue to outscore their opponents as he works to find the right balance between attack and defense ahead of the crucial Champions League encounter with Arsenal.