MY ACCOUNT
Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti emphasised how difficult it is to pick his starting XI after a tricky 1-1 draw against Cadiz on Sunday.
Mariano Diaz put Madrid ahead just five minutes into the contest from point-blank range, but the league champions struggled the rest of the way.
Cadiz’s Sobrino equalised in the 37th minute and, according to expected goal data, the home side also had the four best chances of the second half.
For the game, Cadiz had 2.90 expected goals, compared to just 1.64 for Madrid.
With the LaLiga title secured, Carlo Ancelotti looked towards his side’s Champions League final in his post-game comments to the media, commending the efforts of experienced defender Nacho and highlighting the difficulty of picking a line-up.
“A player like Nacho always makes you think twice when picking the line-up,” he said.
“He’s not the only one, as you have doubts over the line-up for every match here at Real Madrid. There is a full squad and not just 11 players.”
When asked specifically about if in-form duo Federico Valverde and Rodrygo will start in the Paris showdown against Liverpool, Ancelotti played his cards close to his chest.
“Maybe they’ll start or maybe they won’t, but they will definitely play,” he said.
“[Valverde] needs to make the most of his long shot, which he has been doing more in recent matches. I think it’s good for him and us for him to try shooting more.”
