Real Madrid players celebrate at the end of the Champions League quarter-final second-leg penalty win over Man City (Paul ELLIS)
Off the pace in the Champions League and the Spanish top flight last season, Real Madrid have bounced back to give themselves a strong shot at securing both.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side defeated reigning European champions Manchester City on penalties on Wednesday to reach the semi-finals and boast a commanding eight-point lead on Barcelona in La Liga ahead of the Clasico on Sunday.
Hopeful of tying up the signing of long-term target Kylian Mbappe at the end of his Paris Saint-Germain deal, the weeks ahead promise to be thrilling for Los Blancos.
Madrid’s resilience in Manchester as Pep Guardiola’s side dominated the 1-1 draw (4-4 on aggregate), means they can extend their record 14 Champions League triumphs, with Bayern Munich beckoning in the semi-finals.
Amid Barcelona’s euphoria at the end of last season as they conquered La Liga, Madrid surveyed their weaknesses and acted to overcome them.
They moved for Jude Bellingham, adding steel to a team which was dismantled by Manchester City in last season’s Champions League semi-finals.
The England international, although deployed in an attacking role by Ancelotti, helps give Madrid more defensive balance when out of possession than they previously had — he has replaced striker Karim Benzema in the line-up.
This season the story was different at the Etihad Stadium, with Madrid digging deep and holding firm to force penalties and make the final four.
“We showed the attitude and commitment demanded by this jersey,” said Ancelotti.
“This is a very special competition for us and we always deliver something that people are not expecting us to produce.
“Everyone was writing us off but we’re still here.”
– ‘Full of heroes’ –
In La Liga, Madrid are poised to wrest the title from their arch-rivals. They can virtually sew it up this weekend in the Clasico.
Second-placed Barcelona visit the Santiago Bernabeu after being dumped out of the Champions League by PSG on Tuesday.
“We’re delighted, but we’re very tired — now we have to celebrate because it’s a very important qualification,” continued Ancelotti.
“From tomorrow we have to prepare well for Sunday’s game, the Clasico is crucial for the league.”
Barcelona lifted the Spanish title last season on the basis of their strong backline, and while their defence has become more porous, Madrid’s is now the best in Spain.
Without injured first-choice goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, Ancelotti has put his faith in Ukrainian goalkeeper Andriy Lunin.
It was repaid on Wednesday night when Lunin saved Bernardo Silva and Mateo Kovacic’s penalties.
“I’m not the hero … the team is full of heroes,” said Lunin.
“Everyone did a great job, running and fighting for 120 minutes.”
That backbone gives Madrid what captain Nacho Fernandez called “a different side” of themselves, enabling them to overturn the gaps their biggest rivals exploited last season.
While the likes of Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo have the skill and thrust Madrid fans want to see in attack, the team’s survival instincts are also pulling them towards a potential fifth La Liga and Champions League double.
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