Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has maintained a calm outlook ahead of the highly anticipated El Clasico clash with Barcelona on Saturday. Despite Barcelona’s current three-point lead at the top of La Liga and their impressive recent form, Ancelotti downplayed the rivalry’s intensity, emphasizing his focus on Real Madrid’s strengths.
Barcelona, buoyed by a dominant 5-1 victory over Bayern Munich in the Champions League, appear in top form as they prepare to face their long-time rivals. However, Real Madrid, the reigning Spanish champions, are riding an unbeaten streak of 42 La Liga matches and now have the chance to match Barcelona’s record of 43.
Ancelotti acknowledged Barcelona’s form but stressed the unpredictable nature of the Clasico. “The truth is they are doing very well. In a game like the Clasico, a derby, it’s hard to pick a favorite,” Ancelotti remarked.
The Real Madrid boss expressed confidence in his team’s potential, particularly praising Jude Bellingham’s influence on the squad. While Bellingham hasn’t matched his scoring rate from last season, Ancelotti emphasized his broader contributions to the team since joining from Borussia Dortmund.
Reflecting on Real Madrid’s goal-scoring strategy, Ancelotti noted the adjustments made after losing Karim Benzema. “Last year we had no striker, we lost an important striker like Karim, we replaced him with the goals of Bellingham, Joselu, and Brahim (Diaz),” he explained. “This year we don’t have a problem, because we have a striker that can score 30, 35, 40 goals.”
As Real Madrid prepares for one of the season’s most anticipated matches, Ancelotti’s confidence and strategic focus suggest a high-stakes battle between two teams in top form.
