Kylian Mbappé already knows what it is like to play an official Spanish league match wearing the Real Madrid jersey. This happened in Mallorca, in the same stadium where the Mourinho era began in 2010, and also with a draw, although the score was 0-0 in August.
Ancelotti has a lucky problem up front. Lots of attackers of all profiles, but they need to be protected by a strong and precise midfield now that Kroos is out. The task is not easy, but Real Madrid has coped with the departure of great players like Cristiano and Benzema and even won European Cups.
This season is a question of time And it is about managing the form of a team that has to play almost 80 games in all upcoming competitions, including the Club World Cup next summer.
In Mallorca it was Rodrygo who scored the first goal. A typical right-foot shot into the top corner. Vinicius and Mbappé had failed to penetrate the box, but this goal looked like it was the first in an easy match for Los Blancos.
Tchouaméni, Valverde and Bellingham have to balance the ball control and play of Modric and Kroos. Taking their place is not the same as taking their heads off and that will be Ancelotti’s most difficult task this season if he decides not to rely on profiles like Brahim or Güler, who are not afraid to have the ball and raise their heads.
Bad news in the Mallorca goal. Muriqi finished off a corner. A header from the edge of the six-yard box was blocked by Militao and Rüdiger, but Courtois was unable to do anything about it.
With the score at 1-1, Ancelotti made further changes. Trusting Modrić with the entire midfield and leaving Tchouaméni out of the squad did not work out well, as Valverde and Bellingham did not cover the Croatian’s back as well as Modrić himself did Kroos.
Over the next 20 minutes, Mbappé had to contend with a tight defense and a series of combinations with his future partner Vinicius that failed to result in a goal. Mallorca had some of Aguirre’s talent, but under Arrasate all players gained special value, with Samu Costa, Dani Rodríguez or the Japanese Asano running along and covering White’s arrivals.
What Ancelotti wanted to achieve with the three substitutions in the 87th minute is unclear. Trying to decide the game in the last five minutes against such an experienced coach as his friend Arrasate is a big mistake. Neither Lucas, Brahim nor Güler had time to create chances for Mbappé, who was thus able to prevent the first point difference to Barça.
The French star’s debut in Mallorca was a disappointmentbut Real Madrid’s big problem is an endless midfield in which there is no compass to keep order and point to the star who has to score the goals.
