Real Madrid will face Barcelona on Wednesday night in an effort to defend one of their championships this year. They are aware that they must overcome a 1-0 lead at Camp Nou.
The 6-0 triumph over Real Valladolid, however, was hardly a better way to warm up. Four strikers were used in Carlo Ancelotti’s ᴀɢɢʀᴇssɪᴠᴇ lineup, which was successful. Karim Benzema rediscovered his form with a six-minute hat-trick; if the Frenchman is at his best, their chances of advancing will be much increased.
In order to motivate his team before El Clasico, Florentino Perez, president of Real Madrid, reportedly went to the locker room, according to Defensa Central via Superdeporte. He gave all the players his congratulations, but he singled out Benzema for special mention.
“Karim, I’m not kidding… With your performance level and the goals you’ve scored, we’ll return to the Cup on Wednesday. He allegedly whispered to Benzema, a longtime favorite of Perez, “We can do it.
Whether Perez will return to Camp Nou to motivate the team is up for debate. For the first time in twenty years, Perez skipped the final El Clasico because of the tense relations between Barcelona and Real Madrid over El Caso Negreira. It might have had an impact on his choice to address the team before the match.
Dani Ceballos turns down approach while Real Madrid contract silence continues
Dani Ceballos, a midfielder for Real Madrid, is still without a job while his contract negotiations with the club drag on.
In the end of March, Ceballos made a comeback for Spain and started the match against Scotland. This came after a string of successful outings in 2023. It has also occasionally caused fans at the Santiago Bernabeu to chant, “Ceballos, stay.”
Ceballos’ current contract expires in June, and according to The Athletic through Estadio Deportivo, Real Madrid has yet to make him a renewal offer.
According to recent speculations, Atletico Madrid, a ʀɪᴠᴀʟ, would be interested in signing the 26-year-old free agent in the summer. Yet, it appears that Ceballos has declined a request from Los Colchoneros for a second time in his career, the first time occurring two years ago.
Ceballos’ future location is yet unknown, though. If he cannot reach an agreement with Los Blancos, he won’t be making any offers next summer, but it seems that he will wait to see if he can stay at the Bernabeu this summer.
Antonio Rudiger set for late El Clasico fitness call
Antonio Rudiger, a standout for Real Madrid, might be able to re-join the team for the crucial El Clasico Copa del Rey semifinal second leg on April 5.
Rudiger, who has been instrumental for Los Blancos this season, decided to ask for a vacation from his Germany obligations during the March international window so that he could concentrate on getting in shape for Real Madrid’s remaining games of the year.
Last weekend’s 6-0 La Liga victory against Real Valladolid did not use the former Chelsea center back because Carlo Ancelotti chose to be cautious with the 30-year-old.
Rudiger is reportedly still pushing to return and may be called up by Ancelotti, despite original reports suggesting he had already been ruled out of the trip to Catalonia.
Ahead of a crucial stretch of games, Ancelotti has ʀᴇᴠᴇᴀʟᴇᴅ he is undecided about his starting lineup against La Blaugrana, despite the ꜰᴀᴄᴛ that Rudiger did not exercise with the main group today.