MADRID, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Real Madrid needs to switch back into Champions League mode ahead of Tuesday's quarterfinal first leg away to Arsenal after Saturday's shock 2-1 defeat at home to Valencia.

Carlo Ancelotti's side was fortunate that Saturday's defeat wasn't more costly in terms of its La Liga ambitions, thanks to Barcelona only drawing at home to Betis, but the game did highlight a few worrying issues.

For a start, Real Madrid looked tired against Valencia, thanks to an intense return to action after the international break, including 120 minutes in the Copa del Rey against Real Sociedad five days earlier.

Players such as Antonio Rudiger and Fede Valverde are almost ever-present in Ancelotti's side, and both were off the pace on Saturday, while Vinicius Jr also struggled and was even booed by a section of fans in the Bernabeu after seeing an early penalty saved by Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili.

Ancelotti will also be worried at how Valencia scored their first goal from a corner, with Mouctar Diakhaby storming in to play a free header past debutant Fran Gonzalez in goal.

Even though Arsenal has defensive injuries for Tuesday as well as long-term absentees Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus, Mikel Arteta's men are set-piece experts and will have marked that as a way to hurt Real Madrid, although Thibaut Courtois should be back in goal after shaking off a knee problem.

Ferland Mendy is still out, so Fran Garcia continues at left back, and Ancelotti will have to decide if he keeps Lucas Vazquez at left back or moves Raul Asensio out wide to allow David Alaba to come into the side to give Madrid more height at the back.

Real Madrid has always seemed to have the ability to switch mindset between domestic and European competition and in the quarterfinals, despite finishing 11th in the initial group stage while Arsenal finished third, it is Madrid that has the advantage of playing the return leg at home and that is usually a big factor in its favor. Enditem

Related

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)