Too Many Stars Outshine Real Madrid?

There’s no denying that Real Madrid is star-studded. Everyone who purchases tickets through the official sources and the secondary ticket marketplace agrees that they are always out to witness the greats play when the Los Blancos take the field. 

From the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham to Endrick, Real Madrid has it all. But is it too much? 

Madrid’s young superstar Endrick is criticized for seemingly making decisions on his own, not heeding the players instructions, and eventually costing the team valuable points.

The Atleti-Real 1-1 draw was one such occasion. 

What Happened 

Things couldn’t have been uglier at Wanda Metropolitano as a section of raging Atletico Madrid fans hurled objects at Thibaut Courtois following Eder Militao’s 64th-minute opener to give Real Madrid the lead on the night. 

All the fans at the Wanda with tickets from the secondary ticket marketplace were hoping to win in their derby, but unfortunately, Madrid couldn’t get through the line. 

The halt of play after fans pelted in objects would’ve disrupted the flow of the game plan and affected Madrid’s approach. 

After a suspension of play, the game resumed, and it seemed like Los Blancos had been heading towards a certain three points before Angel Correa’s nimble footwork brought the Rojiblancos level. 

However, Real Madrid fans are now pointing fingers at Endrick for a moment of selfishness, which could have finished the game, where he could have passed the ball to Jude Bellingham but instead decided to shoot wide.

Bellingham had a better chance at that point, but Endrick took it all by himself. Until then, Endrick was sometimes a substitute coming in to complement the team after a win to bring in goals, but the Atleti game was different. 

The asking from the youngster was a level higher – Real needed the win. 

While fans were very critical of the moment from Endrick, boss Carlo Ancelotti was less so but agreed that the Brazilian could have passed the ball instead of shooting. He said: “I think it wasn’t as clear of a play as it was against Stuttgart. He could have passed to Bellingham, but I don’t see it as a drama.”

Real Madrid were minutes away from reducing the gap between themselves and Barcelona to just one point. 

However, Correa’s equalizer has kept them three points away from the top of the league Catalan side. Regardless, the season is only eight games young, and Ancelotti’s side will be hopeful that the tides will soon turn in their favor after Hansi Flick’s side’s strong start to the La Liga season.

In Real Madrid’s recent 3-2 win over Alavés, a small but telling moment went largely unnoticed. With the score at 3-0, Madrid launched a counterattack. Vinicius Jr. was leading the charge, with Jude Bellingham in support. 

However, the Brazilian decided to take the shot himself, and Bellingham, visibly frustrated, threw up his arms in disappointment.

By that point, the game had turned into a celebration at the Santiago Bernabéu, with fans even calling for Vallejo to come on. 

Bellingham, however, was eager to make his mark, seemingly missing the goal-scoring prominence he enjoyed last season. With Kylian Mbappé’s injury, the Englishman will find himself playing in more attacking positions.

Bellingham Struggling to Get the Ground Running 

Last season, his first with Madrid, Bellingham scored seven goals in the team’s first nine matches, finishing the campaign with 23 goals and 13 assists. 

This season, which was expected to confirm his status as a key player, he remains influential but less so in front of goal. He has yet to score and has registered just two assists. 

While he missed only one of Madrid’s first nine games last season, he has played in just five this year.

Although it seemed that Rodrygo would be the odd man out with Mbappé’s arrival, potentially losing his spot in the starting lineup, Carlo Ancelotti’s determination to keep the Brazilian in the XI has led to a tactical shift back to a 4-3-3, reminiscent of the “BBC” era. 

This adjustment has forced Bellingham to drop deeper, altering his role. No longer positioned so close to the goal, Bellingham is now more involved in the team’s build-up play and does so to great effect. 

However, with Mbappé’s injury, Jude is returning to the attacking midfield role where he was so dangerous—acting as number 10 in attack and defending on the left in a 4-4-2 when Madrid is on the back foot.

The statistics clearly show Bellingham’s change in involvement. He’s shooting less frequently and from less optimal positions than last season. In 2022-23, he took 96 shots, scoring 23 goals, needing 4.17 shots per goal, and averaging a shot every 35 minutes. 

This season, however, Bellingham has taken just nine shots without finding the net, averaging one shot every 49 minutes, a noticeable drop from last year. 

Bellingham will be back in the position that brought him so close to winning the Ballon d’Or, with the chance to rediscover his goal-scoring form. Don’t be surprised if we hear more of a famous Beatles track coming from the stands in the coming weeks.

Mbappe Out 

Kylian Mbappé sustained a thigh injury against Alavés, which will keep him out for at least three of Real Madrid’s upcoming matches, including the Madrid derby.

After a slow start to his Real Madrid career, Mbappé was finding his rhythm for Los Blancos when the club announced his injury. This is a significant disappointment for the fans, as he missed out on the crucial Madrid debate and will be out for a few more weeks. 

 “Following tests conducted today by Real Madrid’s Medical Services on our player Kylian Mbappé, he has been diagnosed with an injury to the biceps femoris in his left leg. His progress will be monitored,” Real Madrid said in a statement.

Mbappé already bagged seven goals in nine appearances for Real Madrid, including one in Los Blancos’ 3–2 victory over Alavés. When the Frenchman came off the pitch in the 80th minute, it looked like nothing more than a precautionary sub. Further tests said otherwise.

The real question that the regulars from the secondary ticket marketplace will ask is if he would return to his original playing style after injury. With a packed Champions League schedule and the El Classico coming up, Mbappe will be crucial if Real Madrid wants to take the 3 points.