Real Madrid closed its last preseason friendly with a smile. The opponent, WSG Tirol, didn't put up much resistance. Los Blancos won convincingly, controlled the ball, and showed that they're heading into the start of the league season in good form.
Ancelotti's plan worked well, the high press was effective, the team played vertically, and the new signings delivered. Everyone left a good impression. There were goals, quick combinations, and a solid defense, but not all the news was positive.
The new signings shine
In this dress rehearsal before the league, the reinforcements stole much of the spotlight. Youngsters with hunger and newly arrived veterans mixed in a fresh starting eleven. Their impact was immediate.
Each one contributed something different: intensity, technical quality, and energy. The crowd noticed it, the bench celebrated it, and the final result reflected that superiority.
Vinicius's drop
In the midst of the celebration, there was one piece that didn't fit as desired. Vinicius didn't have his day. The Brazilian was imprecise, lacking his usual spark. He didn't score and also couldn't create constant danger.
His lack of accuracy isn't just an individual issue. When Vini isn't sharp, the entire attacking mechanism on his side suffers. Less dribbling, less depth, fewer dangerous connections, and that's where Álvaro Carreras's problem appears.
The fullback who depends on his partner
Carreras, young and with potential, started on that left flank. His defensive work was solid, but in attack he couldn't show his best version. The explanation is simple: his attacking play depends heavily on the connection with the winger.
When Vinicius is inspired, Álvaro finds space to push forward, link up, and reach the byline. When he's not, the flank becomes predictable. Carreras had to hold back his runs and that limited his involvement.
He knows it himself. What happened yesterday isn't new. In other matches, it's already been seen that his performance rises or falls depending on what his attacking partner contributes.
A challenge for the start of the league
With the official season just around the corner, Ancelotti has a double task. He needs to recover the best version of Vinicius and, at the same time, give Carreras the tools to shine even when the winger isn't inspired.
The fullback needs offensive independence. He must look for diagonals, combine inside, and dare to break forward without always depending on Vini's dribbling. He has the quality and the physicality; he just needs to take the step.
Madrid is starting the league with good collective feelings. But the connection on the left flank will be one of the keys to keeping the level. There, both Vinicius and Carreras have work to do.