Champions League
How would Real Madrid line up with both Mbappé and Haaland? Pleasant worries for Ancelotti
Real Madrid fans have a lot to look forward to. They already have Vinícius Junior and Karim Benzema in their attack, with Kylian Mbappé joining in the summer. And Los Blancos want to get Erling Haaland, which would already create a lot of pressure.
Real Madrid fans have a lot to look forward to. They already have Vinícius Junior and Karim Benzema in their attack, with Kylian Mbappé joining in the summer. And Los Blancos want to get Erling Haaland, which would already create a lot of pressure.
As for Mbappé, there’s nothing to worry about there. Almost no one in the football world doubts that the 23-year-old Frenchman will join the Madrid side in the summer. But with Haaland, it is not so certain. According to the latest reports, Real Madrid are in a tug of war with Manchester City for the services of the Norwegian marksman.
The fact that Haaland’s father used to play for the Citizens speaks for the reigning Premier League champion and offers better salary conditions. But the lanky striker reportedly doesn’t need English football and the Premier League, instead he enjoys life in Spain and Spanish football.
We’ll have to wait and see which team acquires the Norwegian sniper, but let’s imagine he goes to the Santiago Bernabéu. How would Carlo Ancelotti line up the starting line-up?
4-3-3 without Benzema
If you bring in Haaland for huge money, you can’t leave him on the bench. So if Ancelotti didn’t want to change his favoured formation, the 21-year-old striker could make way for Benzema. He may be one of the best players in the world this season and has already scored 34 goals, but he is also 34 years old and won’t play forever. He could take on the role of a joker or rotate with Haaland.
Courtois
Carvajal – Militao – Alaba – F.Mendy
Modric – Casemiro – Kroos
Mbappé – Haaland – Vinícius
4-2-4 or all-in
If Ancelotti wouldn’t want to sit either Benzema or Haaland at any cost, there is the possibility of an all-out offensive. He would have to sacrifice one central midfielder and wingers Vinícius and Mbappé would have to help the defence a bit more, but with their speed it might not be a problem.
Courtois
Carvajal – Militao – Alaba – F.Mendy
Casemiro – Kroos
Mbappé – Benzema – Haaland – Vinícius
4-3-3 with Benzema at the back
Moving Benzema to the sub is also a possibility, at which point a central midfielder would have to be sacrificed again. The French goalscorer is probably the most technical striker in the world, he has no problem playing anywhere on the pitch, he would definitely do just fine that way.
Courtois
Carvajal – Militao – Alaba – F.Mendy
Modric – Kroos
Benzema
Mbappé – Haaland – Vinícius
The sacrifice of Vinícius
As recently as last year this would have been the first option. Vinícius had potential, he just couldn’t unlock it. However, he has exploded in the current season and is proving that he can be one of the best footballers in the world. However, in some games, Real could do without him.
Courtois
Carvajal – Militao – Alaba – F.Mendy
Modric – Casemiro – Kroos
Benzema
Mbappé – Haaland
Whichever way Ancelotti sets it up, Real Madrid’s attack will have tremendous power. Of course, it all has to fit together, you just can’t play on star names, as this year’s PSG shows.
However, Real’s team is put together in a completely different way to the Parisians, the defence and midfield are on a different level and most importantly the players have a completely different character and winning spirit. If everything goes well, we may very well be watching the football hegemon of the coming years.
Source: La Liga