Ancelotti has doubts on defense for Real Madrid’s return game against Leipzig in Champions League

By: Tales Azzoni, The Associated Press Posted: 11:06 AM CST Tuesday, Mar. 5, 2024 Last Modified: 2:06 PM CST Tuesday, Mar. 5, 2024

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MADRID (AP) — Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti still has doubts about how to set up his defense for the return match against Leipzig in the round of 16 of the Champions League on Wednesday.

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MADRID (AP) — Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti still has doubts about how to set up his defense for the return match against Leipzig in the round of 16 of the Champions League on Wednesday.

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MADRID (AP) — Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti still has doubts about how to set up his defense for the return match against Leipzig in the round of 16 of the Champions League on Wednesday.

Madrid will enter the game at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium defending a 1-0 lead from the first leg in Germany three weeks ago.

Ancelotti didn’t say whether he will improvise again with midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni playing as a central defender or would promote Nacho Fernández to the position.

Real Madrid's head coach Carlo Ancelotti takes his seat on the bench ahead of the La Liga soccer match between Valencia and Real Madrid at the Mestalla Stadium in Valencia, Spain, Saturday, March 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Jose Breton)

Tchouaméni has been one of the players who has pitched in defensively because of injuries to the team’s regular defenders.

“I’ve thought about it but I don’t want to give away any hints, I still have some doubts,” Ancelotti said Tuesday. “We played with Tchouaméni and (Antonio) Rüdiger because Nacho hadn’t practiced, he had a small ailment. Now he is available and has the same opportunity to start as the others.”

Madrid chose not to add any central defenders in the winter transfer window, with Ancelotti saying that the players he had were enough despite the many injuries affecting the club.

Nacho is a defender but isn’t a usual starter for Ancelotti. The coach also had to use right back Dani Carvajal as a central defender.

Madrid defender Éder Militão has been out since the season opener because of a serious knee injury and David Alaba tore his ACL in December. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois also has been out since before the season started with a knee ligament injury.

Leipzig’s attack is led by Loïs Openda, a Belgium international who has scored 21 goals — including four in the Champions League — this season.

Leipzig coach Marco Rose said he was “convinced” his team can overcome the first-leg deficit.

“We will go to bed with the conviction that we will achieve a phenomenal result,” he said. “We need a little luck, but we can help inspire that. In the first leg we showed Real Madrid that we can go toe to toe with them. Here we are, ready to show it again.”

Madrid is coming off a 2-2 draw at Valencia in the Spanish league. It has a seven-point lead over Girona in the competition.

“Tomorrow we have to show the best version of ourselves,” Ancelotti said. “The tie is not over yet. Talking about the season today is complicated. So far we have done very well but we still have a long way to go.”

Madrid has advanced past the round of 16 the last three seasons, reaching at least the semifinals every time and winning the title in 2022.

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