Real Madrid takes a step closer to the Champions League semifinals after securing a 2-0 victory over Chelsea at the Bernabéu. The Los Blancos were the better team and dominated the game, but the Blues showed some flashes of brilliance. In this article, we will look at three pre-match questions and three post-match questions from the game.
Will Ancelotti use the same starting XI as the one he used at Camp Nou?
Before the match, there were a lot of questions about Real Madrid’s starting lineup. Would Ancelotti repeat the same starting XI that beat Barcelona 4-0 away? The answer was yes. Ancelotti played the exact same line-up, with Alaba ahead of Rüdiger, with Camavinga at left-back, with Kroos at the pivot, and with Rodrygo in the front three. Real Madrid’s attacking approach paid off, and they could have won by more than two goals. This was a risky move, but it worked out, and a 2-0 home win is an excellent result in the Champions League knockouts.
How would Fede Valverde perform after the car park incident?
The second pre-match question was how Fede Valverde would respond. With so much media attention and scrutiny on the midfielder after the car park incident, many wondered how he would perform. However, Valverde played like the Fede Valverde we all know. He was a Duracell Bunny in midfield, winning the ball back consistently and launching attacks, often shooting himself. Ancelotti said afterwards that he felt the Uruguayan had been the best player on the pitch, showing that Valverde is still fully focused on football no matter what is happening off the pitch.
What would happen if Courtois had played for Chelsea and Kepa for Real Madrid?
Lastly, there was a question about Courtois for Kepa. It is ironic that Real Madrid was supposed to sign Kepa in January of 2018, and instead, they signed Courtois from Chelsea. The two keepers’ paths have been linked ever since, but they have never faced each other before this quarter-final first leg. Kepa certainly had more work to do as he faced ten shots on target, but he did a good job. Both goalkeepers stood out, but they were not the difference in this first leg.
Real Madrid’s Champions League quarter-final first leg against Chelsea ended with a 2-0 win for the Spanish side. The match was full of talking points, and in this article, we’ll take a look at three pre-match questions and three post-match questions.
Pre-match Questions:
- Would Ancelotti stick with the same starting XI from the Camp Nou match against Barcelona?Real Madrid had beaten Barcelona 4-0 in their previous match, and there was curiosity about whether Ancelotti would repeat the same starting line-up. As it turns out, Ancelotti did repeat the exact same line-up, which included Alaba ahead of Rüdiger, Camavinga at left-back, Kroos at the pivot, and Rodrygo in the front three. The strategy was risky, with Real Madrid leaving a lot of space behind, but the approach worked out in their favor.
- How would Fede Valverde respond?Before the match, there was a lot of media attention on Fede Valverde’s incident with Álex Baena in the car park. It was unclear how the Uruguayan midfielder would perform with this incident on his mind. However, Valverde played like his usual self, winning the ball back in midfield and launching attacks. Ancelotti even praised Valverde, saying he was the best player on the pitch.
- Courtois for Kepa… what if?It’s interesting to note that Real Madrid almost signed Kepa Arrizabalaga in January 2018, but the club’s then-coach Zinedine Zidane stepped in and halted the signing. Instead, Real Madrid signed Thibaut Courtois from Chelsea. Had Zidane said ‘yes’ to Kepa, tonight’s match could have been a Kepa vs Courtois showdown. However, both goalkeepers played well, with Kepa facing more shots on target but still giving Chelsea a chance to win.
Post-match Questions:
- Did Real Madrid’s risky starting line-up pay off?Real Madrid’s attacking approach paid off with a 2-0 win, but they could have won by more. However, a 2-0 home win is a good result in the Champions League knockouts.
- How did Fede Valverde perform despite the incident?Valverde played like his usual self and was even praised by Ancelotti, proving that he is still fully focused on football.
- How did Kepa and Courtois perform against their former clubs?Both goalkeepers stood out, with Kepa facing more shots on target but still giving Chelsea a chance to win. It’s interesting to think how different the clubs’ paths could have been if Zidane had said ‘yes’ to Kepa. However, the goalkeepers weren’t the difference in this first leg.
