There is no room for rest in the ongoing calendar, and Real Madrid are thus already in Italy for their next game just days after the 3-0 win against Girona.
Taking three points at Montilivi was the perfect way to strike back for Carlo Ancelotti’s side after all the narratives that have been built over the team’s lack of form in recent times.
However, there is an element of truth to talks of their inconsistency and it is testified by the fact that Real Madrid have only won alternate games since beating Leganes.
Tomorrow night, they take to the field against Atalanta in Italy in what could well be their final big challenge in the UEFA Champions League. Given the team’s run in the competition so far, however, they have absolutely no room to err.
Madrid Universal brings you three talking points ahead of Atalanta vs Real Madrid.
A fight for survival
The change in the format of the UEFA Champions League from the traditional group stages to the league pattern was expected to reduce the possibility of upsets with a tangibly greater margin for error. Real Madrid, however, have made it an absolute dogfight.
Having played five UCL games already, Los Blancos currently sit on the edge of elimination and are in 24th place on the standings. Defeats to Lille, Liverpool and AC Milan, after all, have hurt them on the table.
Looking ahead, the Merengues have three more games and a top-8 finish is out of reach even if they take all nine points. The objective, however, remains to get as many points as possible so as to earn a favourable draw for the playoff round.
Tomorrow’s game, on that front, is critical for a defeat that could even see the team drop chances of qualifying. Should they be on six points after tomorrow’s clash, they can reach a maximum of twelve points which may not even prove enough to make it through.
Real Madrid thus face a virtual finale tomorrow and find themselves in a tricky stadium to be playing such a fixture at. There is no margin for error.
The big returnee
The biggest talking points ahead of tomorrow’s big European clash, needless to say, revolves around the return of Real Madrid’s talisman.
An unfortunate injury forced Vinicius Jr. out of the team’s last clash in the UEFA Champions League and the men in white slumped to a defeat against Liverpool without the Brazilian winger.
Owing to his setback, Vinicius did not take part in any of the team’s next three league games and was, in fact, slated to miss at least two more clashes.
An early recovery, however, has helped him kick forward his return to the field and he has been included in the squad to face Atalanta tomorrow in what comes as a massive boost for Carlo Ancelotti and his plans.
The manager will be thrilled to have his biggest attacking weapon back in time for the must-win game although there are still questions to be answered for him.
For starters, it remains to be seen if the winger is fit enough to start for Los Blancos after facing a reasonably lengthy spell on the sidelines.
Further, the manager must find a means to incorporate Vinicius without disturbing the good dynamics between Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham which has been shining in recent games.
Shifting Mbappe back to a central role may do more harm than good, and Ancelotti thus has serious questions to answer on an otherwise special day.
Momentum at the right time
Real Madrid have lacked consistency this season and their haphazard result sheet speaks volumes about their struggles. However, there is no denying that they have been much improved in recent games.
While the defeat at San Mames was indeed a big blow, the team looked much better against Girona and had plenty of positives to take away.
Heading into a game against a team in supreme form, Los Blancos require all the momentum that they can garner and can thus travel to Italy with optimism over their chances.
Atalanta have been on a splendid run this season and their last defeat in any competition came back in September.
They have been in strong form in the UEFA Champions League as well and are currently in fifth place only behind Liverpool, Inter Milan, Borussia Dortmund and Barcelona.
It is thus essential that Ancelotti’s men pick up as many positives as they can from the most recent win and take to the field with intent on Tuesday night. Getting past the Italians on their home turf, after all, requires more momentum than they currently have.