Kylian Mbappé’s La Liga debut for Real Madrid didn’t unfold as expected, as Los Blancos settled for a draw against Mallorca last weekend. Coach Carlo Ancelotti noted that the Spanish champions struggled with “balance” on the field. The French superstar will make his first home appearance at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday against newly promoted Real Valladolid, a team owned by Brazilian legend and former Madrid forward Ronaldo.
Mbappé is aiming to carve out a legacy in football that rivals, or even surpasses, that of Ronaldo, who, despite being a marquee player during Madrid’s ‘Galactico’ era, only managed to secure one La Liga title and failed to win the Champions League during his five seasons at the club from 2002 to 2007. One of the main issues during Ronaldo’s time was Madrid’s top-heavy lineup, filled with star attackers but lacking a crucial defensive presence after the departure of Claude Makelele.
Ancelotti’s current lineup, featuring Mbappé, Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo Goes, and Jude Bellingham, delivered mixed results. They won 2-0 against Atalanta in the UEFA Super Cup but were held to a 1-1 draw by Mallorca. Ancelotti expressed concerns about his team’s balance, stating that better defensive organization and attitude are needed to improve. A particular challenge is that Mbappé, Vinicius, and Rodrygo all favor playing on the left wing, which pushes Bellingham into a deeper midfield role, limiting his attacking contributions where he thrives most.
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As Madrid prepare to face Real Valladolid, Ancelotti will be eager to find the right formula to maximize his star-studded lineup. Despite Valladolid’s relatively modest threat on paper, Ancelotti knows that getting his team in sync sooner rather than later is crucial.
Mbappé, who joined Madrid this summer after his contract with Paris Saint-Germain ended, scored against Atalanta but struggled against Mallorca and their goalkeeper Dominik Greif. He will be eager to impress in front of the home crowd at the Bernabeu, especially after being warmly welcomed by 80,000 fans during his presentation.
Real Madrid’s attacking prowess, while formidable, could also motivate opponents to rise to the challenge of shutting them down, as seen in Mallorca’s disciplined performance. Valladolid coach Paulo Pezzolano acknowledges the daunting task ahead but remains determined to compete against what he describes as the best team and attack in the world.
In other La Liga action this weekend, Celta Vigo faces Valencia, and Sevilla takes on Villarreal on Friday, while Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, and other teams also have fixtures lined up.
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