The Madrid press still has plenty of coverage and analysis of Real Madrid’s comfortable win over FC Copenhagen in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
Two goals apiece from Cristiano Ronaldo and Angel di Maria saw off the Danes, and ensured Los Blanco take a firm grip on the group, leading by four points after just two games and looking good for qualification to the last 16. More importantly, the win silenced a few critics who said Carlo Anelotti was facing his first crisis as Madrid manager.
Real is still a work in progress, and Ancelotti’s team has yet to hit top gear. AS today has a poll over where Gareth Bale should play – something the Italian may consider when the Welshman is fit again. According to the poll, 52% of Los Merengues fans would like to see the 24-year-old play on the left wing, rather than on the right where Ancelotti has used him so far.
The fans would move Cristiano Ronaldo forward into the striker’s position, and take Karim Benzema out of the starting eleven altogether. The Frenchman has underperformed this year, failing to score in his last five La Liga matches – and has been linked with a move away from the club.
Meanwhile, it was confirmed yesterday that Bale will miss two weeks with his thigh injury. In fairly farcical scenes, Wales boss Chris Coleman called the 91 million euro man up for his nation’s World Cup qualifiers next week, only for Bale to pull out 35 minutes later. The former Tottenham Hotspur player will remain in Madrid working on his fitness having missed much of pre-season through injury.
It’s cool but I see one flaw there… Cristiano is not a classic number 9, nor does he wanna be.
The left side belongs to Ronaldo.