Champions Return to Celebrate: A Look Ahead to Real Madrid vs Granada
Real Madrid’s journey this season has been nothing short of extraordinary. Carlo Ancelotti’s squad, lacking the usual superstar names, battled through adversity to reach the pinnacle of European football: the Champions League final. Every player stepped up, defying expectations and etching their names in club history. Real Madrid Celebrate vs Granada
Following their thrilling victory over Bayern Munich in the Champions League semi-final. Los Blancos return to La Liga action for their 35th matc. They face relegation-threatened Granada, but the focus might be elsewhere. Here are three key talking points for this clash:
1. A Champions’ Salute: Celebrating La Liga Glory
Almost a week ago, Real Madrid secured the La Liga title. A convincing win against Cadiz propelled them to 87 points, while Barcelona’s defeat cemented their championship position. Celebrations were put on hold for the crucial Champions League tie, but now, with a place in the European final secured, it’s time for the weight of this domestic accomplishment to sink in.
Tomorrow night will be the first time Real Madrid takes the field as official La Liga champions. Clinching the title with four games to spare underlines their dominance throughout the season. Expect a special energy from Ancelotti’s side against Granada. While there’s little left to play for in terms of points, savoring the reward and playing as champions is a crucial part of the journey.
2. Bellingham’s Regeneration: Restoring the Young Star
While Real Madrid’s season has been remarkably consistent, young talisman Jude Bellingham’s form hasn’t followed suit. After an explosive start, the youngster has dipped recently, with his on-field contributions declining.
Ancelotti and his staff believe Bellingham has been overworked. A combination of minor injuries, fatigue, and muscular strain are suspected to be behind the dip. The manager is determined to help him regain peak performance.
Los Blancos are thus viewing the remaining month as a “second pre-season” for Bellingham, prioritizing his health above all else. Careful management of his playing time will ensure he stays sharp while allowing his body to recover fully. This approach needs to begin against Granada if Bellingham is to be in top condition for the Champions League final at Wembley.
3. Rotation Roulette: Experimenting for Next Season
“These matches will help us prepare for the final,” Ancelotti declared in his pre-game press conference, confirming rotations would be the norm.
With the season entering its final month, it’s time for Ancelotti to experiment with his options. Real Madrid’s current position allows this luxury. With no pressure to win La Liga and a month to prepare for the crucial Champions League final, the Italian manager will look to give fringe players more minutes to evaluate their potential for next season.
Rotations could begin in goal, with Thibaut Courtois potentially making his second start of the season. Rumors suggest Ancelotti might want him in the starting lineup against Borussia Dortmund, hinting at a more prominent role for Courtois in the coming weeks.
Eder Militao could also see himself featuring more regularly in May. Arda Guler, Dani Ceballos, Joselu, Lucas Vazquez, and Fran Garcia are some other players who can expect increased playing time starting from the Granada match. This might be the last time we see these players on the bench, with their futures potentially decided based on their performances.