Real Madrid had little trouble defeating Espanyol at home, but a few questions remain for Carlo Ancelotti.
- Is it Time for Real Madrid to Rotate the Squad?
Before the match against Espanyol, Carlo Ancelotti hinted at squad rotation due to a busy schedule. “Los Blancos” won’t have a full week of rest until after the October international break. Ferland Mendy, Antonio Rudiger, and Vinicius Junior surprisingly started on the bench to make way for Fran Garcia, Luka Modric, and Arda Guler. This forced the Italian coach to rearrange the lineup, with Aurelien Tchouameni dropping back to play center-back alongside Eder Militao. One reason for resting Rudiger was his knee condition; he needed a break after consecutive matches, which seems a reasonable decision.
- Can Real Madrid’s Defense Maintain Their Home Record?
Before Thibaut Courtois conceded against Espanyol, Real Madrid hadn’t allowed any goals at Santiago Bernabeu since Fermin Lopez scored for Barcelona on April 21, specifically in La Liga. Real Betis (twice), Real Valladolid, Deportivo Alaves, and Cadiz failed to find the net against “Los Blancos.” The streak began with 21 minutes played by Andriy Lunin and 27 by Kepa Arrizabalaga off the bench, with Courtois contributing the rest. Last year, Madrid’s longest home clean sheet in La Liga was three games, and this season began similarly. The record could have extended further if Espanyol hadn’t had a bit of luck with their opening goal.
- Is Rodrygo Goes Suited to Play on the Left Wing?
For the first time this season, Carlo Ancelotti placed Rodrygo Goes on the left wing, with Kylian Mbappe as the center forward and Arda Guler on the right. This raised questions among fans about Rodrygo’s suitability for this position. He scored a crucial goal to make it 2-1 but only after returning to his preferred right wing. The impact of Vinicius Junior upon his arrival showed he is more suitable for that role than Rodrygo. The connection between Vinicius and Mbappe was clearer, as evidenced by the third goal. Therefore, Ancelotti needs to reconsider pushing Rodrygo to the left in future matches, as it hasn’t produced the desired results.