With less than an hour remaining before Real Madrid’s big clash with Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16, the reigning European champions have announced their starting eleven. The biggest takeaway from Real Madrid’s squad was the inclusion of both Federico Valverde and Antonio Rudiger, players who are not at their peak physical condition.
The inclusion of Valverde and Rudiger indicates one thing: Real Madrid is ready to go all out against their city rivals tonight. Coach Carlo Ancelotti appears steadfast, not willing to make any adjustments to his starting eleven and pushing for the duo to play the entire game, notwithstanding the concerns surrounding their fitness.
According to AS, both Rudiger and Valverde are far from being 100% fit for the entire ninety minutes. Valverde is making his return to action for the first time since the UCL knockout playoff second leg against Manchester City, having missed games against Girona, Real Sociedad, and Real Betis due to injury. Rudiger has played more than Valverde over the past few weeks, yet he seemed to struggle against Real Betis, raising questions about his readiness for tonight's match.
Real Madrid, who suffered a 2-1 defeat to Real Betis this past weekend, is desperate to bounce back. Valverde will play at right-back and captain the team for the match against Atletico Madrid on March 4. Raul Ascensio takes the central defensive spot alongside Rudiger, with Ferland Mendy at left-back and Thibaut Courtois remaining firmly seated behind them as the goalkeeper.
Replacing Dani Ceballos, who is out due to injury, and Jude Bellingham, who is serving suspension, are Eduardo Camavinga and Brahim Diaz. Aurelien Tchouameni will join them as the third midfielder. The attacking trio remains top-heavy, with Rodrygo Goes, Kylian Mbappe, and Vinicius Jr. upfront.
Looking at the stats, Valverde has played practically the entire season, logging over 3,300 minutes across 40 matches, contributing 8 goals and 6 assists to date. Given his immense contribution, his inclusion is viewed as excellent news, especially as he was initially sidelined recently.
Fans have expressed delight at Ancelotti’s decisions, particularly emphasizing Valverde’s return and ascension to captaincy, attributing significant importance to Valverde’s offensive contributions and presence on the field.
“Ancelotti has done it! Valverde right back! Ascensio starting! We are cooking Atletico!” exclaimed one fan on social media, reflecting the hopeful atmosphere surrounding the side’s preparation for the clash.
Meanwhile, Carlo Ancelotti spoke about the emotional weight of this local derby, which is always highly contested regardless of the circumstances. He emphasized the need for his players to replicate the performance they showed during the second half of their last match against Atletico, recognizing the pressure and emotional stakes involved.
“The derby is always the same,