"Weird formation but VAMOS", "6 midfielders on the pitch" - Fans react as Real Madrid name XI for clash against Barcelona
Fans on social media have reacted to Carlo Ancelotti naming Real Madrid's line-up for their La Liga El Clasico against Barcelona on Sunday, April 21.
Los Blancos are set to take on Azulgrana at the Santiago Bernabeu and Ancelotti has named a strong line-up for the game. Andriy Lunin, hero of the penalty shootout against Manchester City in the Champions League quarter-final, has started between the sticks.
Antonio Rudiger is the only natural defender named in the first XI. Lucas Vazquez, Aurelien Tchouameni, Jude Bellingham, Eduardo Camavinga, Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, and Fede Valverde are all starting. Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo are the two attackers.
Rudiger, Camavinga, Vazquez, and Tchouameni are expected to start as the defensive four against Barca. Fans are a bit baffled by the line-up as one of them wrote:
"6 midfielders on the pitch."
Another fan found the formation confusing, but they backed the team, writing on X:
"Weird formation but VAMOS."
Some fans, meanwhile, are confident in the midfield's ability to win them the game and one of them also got nostalgic to see Toni Kroos and Luka Modric start together.
Real Madrid enter the contest as the La Liga leaders with 78 points from 31 matches while Barcelona are second, eight points behind the league leaders.
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti emphasizes the importance of group strength ahead of Barcelona clash
Real Madrid enter the Barcelona clash on the back of a stellar penalty shootout win against Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.
They are still vying for La Liga and the UCL title. Carlo Ancelotti spoke about the importance of having a strong group ahead of the El Clasico. He said (via Los Blancos' website):
"A team's strength always lies on how they work together as a group, guys who put the success of the group ahead of their own achievement. The game the other day might throw up the odd doubt, but first and foremost it reflects the commitment of every player here."
Los Blancos have a core group of players who have been playing together for a while. They will need the team spirit to be high to get past Barca days after a gruelling clash against City.