Real Madrid ended their City Derby collision in Atletico Madrid and probably felt a bit frustrated that they could not complete their comeback against Los Colchoneros because they had dominated the second half of the game. Although they did not create an abundance of opportunities, Jude Bellingham's effort came from the bar and Rodrygo 'shot that whistled past the post the best of the nearest on both sides to the winner.
After a comfortable first half for Jan Oblak, Real Madrid improved considerably in the second period, attacking the flanks and dominated the ball. Much more was seen from Lucas Vazquez in Rodrygo Goes, and Fran Garcia, doubled with Vinicius Junior on the left flank. That was the plan for Carlo Ancelotti in the Santiago Bernabeu. In the middle, Dani Ceballos began to direct matters.
His frustration was that the plan was not implemented in the first half, says Marca. Vinicius came in far too often and eventually got lost when he tried to connect with Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe. During the break he told his players that 'we do what we had planned, or there will be changes immediately'. That included a message to stay in particular for Vinicius.
From the start of the second half, Luka Modric, Brahim Diaz and Eduardo Camavinga Alll were warmed up on the touchline, even though no changes were made to the 80th minute. Ancelotti confirmed in his press conference after the game that the Vinicius plan was to start on the outside.
One of the emphasis for Ancelotti in recent weeks has been the 'collective dedication', and the defensive effort of his forward line, despite the fact that he maintained on Friday that one of Mbappe, Rodrygo, Bellingham or Vinicius was not the solution for their struggles at the back. The athletic says that internal sources were satisfied with their efforts in the second half, but it is 'not enough to do it for 45 minutes'. Yet all four of them will start on Tuesday evening against Manchester City in the Etihad Stadium in the Champions League.
Earlier there have been reports that Ancelotti could drop one of his stars for the game, while veteran presence Luka Modric is in battle to return to the starting line-up against City. With Lucas Vazquez, the last defender who is injured, it seems that Fede Valverde can fill on right back again.
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