Real Madrid are entering a tense period of the season with a tight schedule between now and Christmas. Los Blancos will have to play nine matches in 28 days, including important confrontations in La Liga, the Champions League and the FIFA Club World Cup final. The Madrid team's biggest difficulty comes from the lack of force due to a series of injuries in key positions.
Real Madrid's defence is in a state of disarray after losing Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao to hamstring injuries and will miss the rest of the season. David Alaba is also out as he is still recovering from a similar injury from last season, while Aurelien Tchouameni, Lucas Vazquez and Rodrygo are also out with fitness issues.
Antonio Rudiger is currently the only fit centre-back in the starting line-up. Although not a natural centre-back, Tchouameni could be moved into defence to plug the gap, while young talents such as Raul Asencio are also being given a chance. The 21-year-old is highly rated for his ability to adapt quickly and the support of special training sessions with the coaching staff.
On the right wing, Carvajal's absence means Real have to consider temporary options. Federico Valverde could be used in this position, especially in high-intensity games like the upcoming clash with Liverpool. However, the Uruguayan star is not a long-term option and Ancelotti could consider using young talents such as Jesus Fortea, a defender considered a bright prospect from the academy.
Despite facing many difficulties in terms of personnel, a bright spot for Real Madrid is Jude Bellingham. The English midfielder had an impressive performance against Osasuna and in the two matches against the England team.
Bellingham has become more important than ever, especially in the context of the team lacking quality replacements after the retirement of Toni Kroos. Captain Carlo Ancelotti is expected to continue to use the 2003-born star in the attacking midfield position, while players such as Eduardo Camavinga and Luka Modric take on supporting roles behind.
Up front, Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior are still the names that receive absolute trust. However, Mbappe's form is causing concern as he has not achieved stability in the Real Madrid shirt. However, the coaching staff believes that the FIFA Days in November can help the French superstar regain his fitness and confidence.
Meanwhile, Vinicius Junior continues to prove his important role with his dynamism and effectiveness in attacks. The pair are expected to not only score goals but also contribute more to pressing and defending from a distance, something Ancelotti always demands from modern strikers.
Although the current injury situation has forced Carlo Ancelotti to rotate his squad and there is no guarantee that Real Madrid will recruit more players in January. Some inside sources believe that if the team adapts well to the current force, the board may not feel the need to strengthen personnel.
However, with the intensity of the competition and the high demands from the arenas, adding players is the right thing to do to reduce the pressure on the pillars. Decisions in the winter transfer window will likely shape not only Los Blancos' performance this season but also affect their ability to maintain long-term stability.
