Real Madrid will need to rely on its makeshift defense when it aims to maintain its narrow La Liga lead this weekend.
Madrid travels to Osasuna on Saturday with a one-point advantage over Atletico Madrid and two points ahead of Barcelona.
With a shortage of defenders, coach Carlo Ancelotti used a new defensive line that played together for the first time on Tuesday and managed to win 3-2 against Manchester City in the first leg of the Champions League playoffs.
Ferland Mendy, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Raúl Asencio, and Federico Valverde are expected to play in defense again this weekend.
Ancelotti doesn’t have many options. Injuries have left him without central defenders Éder Militão, Antonio Rüdiger, and David Alaba, as well as right backs Dani Carvajal and Lucas Vázquez.
However, the coach was impressed by how well this new defense performed at Manchester City.
Tchouaméni, usually a midfielder, was moved to central defense, and Valverde played out of position at right back. Asencio, like Tchouaméni, is a B team player and turned 22 on Thursday.
“The back four had never played together, not even in training,” Ancelotti said this week.
“They were absolutely fantastic. Tchouaméni has come in for a lot of criticism but he was incredible. Asencio’s maturity continues to surprise people and Valverde and Mendy were fantastic. We’ve been able to bring something really positive out of an emergency situation.”
Ancelotti mentioned that the whole team has worked extra hard to defend and keep the squad balanced.
Raul Asencio gestures in the game“I always say that defending is about the attitude of the whole team,” Ancelotti said. “We defended well as a unit (against City). The team delivered a well-rehearsed defensive display.”
The injuries have prevented Ancelotti from rotating the squad or giving players a rest ahead of the key Champions League second leg at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium next week.
“We need Rüdiger and Alaba for the return leg and I think they’ll be available,” Ancelotti said.
Tight at the top, in La Liga, Madrid recently drew 1-1 at home against Atletico. Barcelona took advantage of that result to close the gap on their Madrid rivals.
The Catalan team, unbeaten this year with nine wins and two draws, will host sixth-place Rayo Vallecano on Monday.
Atletico handed Barcelona its last loss in December and will host mid-table Celta Vigo on Saturday. Diego Simeone’s side has only one loss — 1-0 at Leganes in January — in its last 22 games across all competitions.
Elsewhere, fourth-place Athletic Bilbao will visit Espanyol, and fifth-place Villarreal will host Valencia. Sevilla plays last-place Valladolid, and Real Betis will host Real Sociedad.
