From 6th of April to 14th of April Real Madrid will face Liverpool two times in Uefa Champions League quarters and Barcelona in La Liga. It will certainly be a crucial week for Real Madrid (and for Real madrid's opponents too!). In these period of the year it becomes usual to face top teams in Champions League and also to play the title with the direct rivals in the Domestic Championship (La Liga). But this is what great teams face. The road to reach the top cannot be easy and it shouldn't be! Otherwise we would never see beautiful and emotional games... The most important thing is to be ready for that.
Real Madrid will firstly try to face this crucial period with the full team. It is extremely important to have all the players in the best possible form in order to have the opportunity to make choices for the starting XI, for the strategy that will be followed during the games and also for every urgent decision that may be needed if things don't go they way they are planned. The situation is like this: Sergio Ramos suffered a calf injury while on international duty with Spain, and the inspirational captain is not expected to return to the field until the latter stages of this month. Eden Hazard has made huge steps forward in his recovery from a muscular problem, and the Belgium international is expected to be a part of the squad against Liverpool. Dani Carvajal has been battling a hamstring problem he sustained against Valencia in the middle of February, and the right-back is still not ready to return to first-team action. Federico Valverde trained last week as he stepped up his recovery from a muscular problem, but the Uruguay international was not in the squad against Eibar and remains a major doubt for this game. As for the suspensions, Real Madrid does not have any suspended players and this is a point that should remain like this. Adding suspended players to the list of the missing players would be a real pain for the team and the coach.
Secondly, Real Madrid will try to approach this week with the best physical condition. In the match against Eibar the team did not use the most of the energies but however played wisely and gave the best and no false steps were made. Zidane used all of the available substitions in order to give some rest to the players. Besides this, Marcelo and Isco returned to the starting XI and proved that they are fit and in a good physical and psychological form. Their experience and talent will be very important and useful. On the other side we have Asensio and Nacho who seem to be having a good period and their performances are always in progress. On the other hand we have the senators Benzema, Modric and Kroos who are also having a great period with several amazing and consistent performances bringing goals, assists and confidence in every game.
Third, the psychological condition: Real Madrid is having a good period where La Liga and Champions League are both possible mathematically and also technically. The team has won 9 and drawn 2 matches in the last 11, which is a very important detail. This great period will serve as a mental boost for the team and sometimes the psychological aspect becomes the most important factor in a team's performance, making every single player give the best from the self and believing every minute in their journey and their goal. Both Barcelona and Liverpool come from periods with lots of ups and downs and they may not be in their best psychological condition. This is an important part that may decide lots of things and Real Madrid should make use of it. Liverpool is struggling to reach the top 4 and Barcelona just comes from a great defeat in Champions League. But, this should not make anyone think that they will make poor performances. It is also true that now they have only one competition left to win respectively Champions League and La Liga and Real Madrid is on their way. It is almost certain that both Liverpool and Barcelona will give more than 100% to take the most out of these matches, so Zidane & co have to be really careful!
Playing matches of these levels is never easy and requires the team to be in the best form in every aspect. It is possible to lose each of these matches and it would never be a shame. But the most important thing is to give the best and honor the white shirt. Everyone knows what Real Madrid is and means. Real Madrid will always get into the pitch with the intention to win and to reach the end of every competition. This badge does not allow any negligence. The team has one duty: to give the best and to please the fans of Real Madrid and football in general. The rest will be shown in the field: victory or defeat, this is football!
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