Carlo Ancelotti considering changing Real Madrid's tactics following 5-2 loss to Barcelona: Report

The Italian is likely to bench one of his attacking players for the next game.

Following Real Madrid’s 5-2 loss to Barcelona in the Supercopa de Espana final, head coach Carlo Ancelotti is seriously reevaluating his tactics for crucial matches.

Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo, and Jude Bellingham were Madrid’s four attack-minded players when they began that match. But Ancelotti and his team are thinking of switching this up to create more balance against tough opponents.

Mbappe’s goal in the fifth minute gave them a 1-0 lead over Barca, but they conceded four goals in the first half and another in the 48th to finish with a historic defeat. This was the first time Madrid had lost four straight Clasicos following a 4-0 LaLiga loss to Barca at the Bernabeu in October.

In other crucial matches this season, such as away at Bilbao’s Athletic Club in LaLiga and against Milan and Liverpool in the Champions League, Madrid have suffered devastating losses.

Ancelotti and his team have come to a solid conclusion after the Supercopa loss to Barcelona: they should not play with four attackers. On a weekly basis, as is customary, they will also discuss the situation with the board.

🚨 Carlo Ancelotti is seriously considering changing Real Madrid’s game plan in big matches by no longer starting Vinicius, Mbappé, Rodrygo and Bellingham at the same time.🗞️ @MarioCortegana pic.twitter.com/2NdbGG6WaO

— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) January 15, 2025

Prior to Sunday’s defeat, Madrid had an eight-game winning streak, but Ancelotti wants to change up his strategy. The team has struggled to strike the correct balance between offensive and defensive play in crucial games, despite the club’s plan to assemble a forward line full of elite players.

Which of the four forwards would be dropped is still up in the air. Despite the fact that Ancelotti values the 24-year-old Brazil forward for his defensive work rate, all signs point to Rodrygo being the most likely player to be benched.

Madrid’s 4-4-2 configuration would work with not playing four attackers. Bellingham would move to the left and Federico Valverde back to the right wing, necessitating major sacrifices from the Uruguay and England internationals.

In the upcoming weeks, Academy alumnus Raul Asencio is anticipated to become more settled in the first team. It would have been challenging for the 21-year-old to start against Barca given the team’s excellent recent performance, according to club insiders who, like all others asked to remain anonymous in order to preserve ties.

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