Real Madrid isn't having its best week. After a defeat against Arsenal in a high-stakes match, now there's a new complication: Carlo Ancelotti's absence.
The Italian coach won't be on the bench this Sunday against Alavés due to a suspension. An absence that changes the team's script right in the middle of the race for LaLiga.
An unexpected suspension
Carlo Ancelotti received a yellow card for protesting in the match against Valencia. Nothing out of the ordinary in a heated match, but that warning was the last straw in his cycle. The RFEF Disciplinary Committee didn't forgive: a one-match suspension.
Thus, Real Madrid is left without its main figure on the sidelines. In a moment where every detail counts, losing the coach during the match can make a difference.
Who takes the lead?
Without Ancelotti, the white bench will be in the hands of his assistant coach. Pending official confirmation, everything points to Davide Ancelotti, his son and usual assistant, taking the reins.
Davide has already managed from the sidelines on other occasions. He knows the team and keeps his father's philosophy. But assisting is one thing, and leading under pressure is quite another.
An also weakened Alavés
The Basque team also doesn't arrive with all its pieces. Three players have been suspended: Antonio Sivera, Jon Guridi, and the Argentine José Tomás Conechny. All due to an accumulation of yellow cards.
This somewhat balances the scales, although Ancelotti's absence weighs more. Not only for his tactical role but for his presence, calmness, and experience in challenging matches.
More than three points
What's at stake in Vitoria goes beyond a victory. Madrid needs to recover after the blow against Arsenal. And doing so without their leader from the bench is an extra challenge.
The team will need to show personality. Commitment and above all, the ability to react.
All eyes will be on the players and on Davide. Because even though Carlo isn't on the bench, his influence will remain present. But now, more than ever, it's the footballers who must step up.
A challenge with the taste of a final
Every match in LaLiga counts, every point can determine the title's fate. This Sunday, Real Madrid will have to prove that it is more than a name. More than a figure on the sidelines.
Without Ancelotti, with absences in front and pressure on their necks, Madrid has a date with its character. The bench will be empty of its leader, but the field must be filled with answers.