Real Madrid have endured a disappointing 1-0 defeat against arch-rivals Barcelona in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-finals on Friday. Eder Militao’s own goal gave the Blaugrana an advantage going into the second leg.
The Blancos are struggling to keep up with Barcelona in the league as well. They are currently seven points behind the Blaugrana in the La Liga table. On that note, let’s look at the three problems Real Madrid are facing this season.
1. Eduardo Camavinga’s form
Eduardo Camavinga was one of the most sought-after players in Europe when he joined Real Madrid from Rennes in the summer transfer window of 2021. The 20-year-old midfielder has played 78 games(in all competitions) for the Blancos thus far, registering two goals and three assists.
Real Madrid wanted him to play a key role for them this season following the departure of Casemiro to Manchester United last summer. However, the France international has struggled to step up to the occasion. He has played 23 La Liga games this term, managing to register just one assist.
Read More: Carlo Ancelotti Claims Barcelona Did Not Deserve to Win Copa del Rey Semi-Final First Leg
The 20-year-old midfielder loses the ball frequently in the middle of the park, which often leads to opposition counter-attacks. His mistake led to Barcelona’s goal during the El Classico. He needs to step up his performance to keep his place in the Blancos first team beyond this season.
2. Vinicius Junior limitations
Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior is one of the most talented attackers of his generation. He can threaten any defense on his day. However, he also has some limitations.
The Brazil international often struggles against teams who sit deep. Barcelona maintained a low block during the El Classico, and subsequently Vinicius Junior found it hard to make his presence felt in the game.
The 22-year-old attacker lost six duels, lost possession 24 times, and misplaced four of six attempted crosses. Carlo Ancelotti will demand more from him during the upcoming games.
3. Squad depth
Real Madrid used to have one of the deepest squads in the world. However, that isn’t the case this term. Carlo Ancelotti often struggles to find firepower from the bench whenever his team looks begging.
He often has to throw 18-year-old Alvaro Munoz onto the pitch to keep his team pushing while trailing. The Italian manager is likely to dig deep into the transfer window in the summer to add depth to his squad.
