Latest news with #MadridChampionsLeague
Forbes
08-04-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
Real Madrid Vs. Arsenal Line Up: Ancelotti Makes Several Changes
Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti will make several changes to his side when it faces Arsenal away in the Champions League quarterfinals on Tuesday. The defending and record 16-time European champions travel to London off the back of a shock 2-1 defeat to Valencia at the weekend, and will look to steady the ship in the competition they love the most. At a prematch press conference on Monday, Ancelotti complimented an opponent in England that 'does many things well'. 'Arsenal is very complete, [it] executes transitions well, responds in low blocks, presses well... We prepared well, with a clear approach and we are going to try to execute it,' vowed the Italian, who also described the work of his opposite number Mikel Arteta as 'fantastic'. 'With him Arsenal is much stronger and they will improve in the future. He has been here for five years to build a top team in Europe. There are not many teams that do everything right. There are those who do some things well, but being complete - few,' Ancelotti further stated. As for his own team, Ancelotti will make a series of changes to the first XI that came up short against Valencia. Thibaut Courtois returns between the sticks, while Aurelien Tchouameni is dropped from center back in favor of Raul Asencio. The youngster is partnered by Antonio Rudiger, who continues as do fullbacks Lucas Vazquez and Fran Garcia. The double pivot looks different, though, with Eduardo Camavinga partnering Luka Modric. 'The experience of some players is very important in games like this,' Ancelotti said, in reference to the likes of the Croat who has lifted the UCL's big-eared trophy on now fewer than five occasions. 'They are not afraid to play games like this, because they have played so many. In addition, they help young people and give them confidence.' Brahim Diaz is moved from the right wing for Rodrygo to come back and form a more attacking line that places Jude Bellingham as a CAM and Vinicius Jr. on the left. Up top, it is of course lone number 9 Kylian Mbappe. Real Madrid Champions League Quarterfinal First Leg Starting XI Vs Arsenal: Courtois; Fran Garcia, Rudiger, Asencio, Vazquez; Camavinga, Modric; Vinicius, Bellingham, Rodrygo; Mbappe
BBC News
04-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Asensio's Champions League love affair goes on
Since their last Champions League outing against Celtic, Aston Villa had lost at Wolves and Crystal Palace - as well as dropped points at home to it was perhaps understandable there was slight concern among their fans before the last-16 first leg with Club Brugge in needn't have riding their luck at times, Villa took a huge step towards the quarter-finals after establishing a handsome 3-1 first leg lead to take into the return leg on 12 Mings was immense in defence, while three-times Real Madrid Champions League winner Marco Asensio continues to flourish in a competition he the Spaniard made it 3-1 after scoring an 88th-minute penalty, he became the first player to reach double figures for goals as a substitute in the Champions League - with 10 of his 13 goals in the competition coming from the bench. Is Asensio the shrewdest of all the signings made during the January transfer window?The 29-year-old, who has joined on loan from Paris St-Germain until the end of the season, looks like he is loving life in a Villa has five goals in his past four appearances in three different competitions, while Tuesday was his first Champions League goal since April 2023 for Real Madrid against Chelsea.
