Following their shock elimination from the UEFA Champions League in midweek, Real Madrid will be desperate to return to winning ways as they take on Athletic Club.
Heading into this tie, Real Madrid have announced the starting eleven which will take on the Basque outfit, hoping to secure all three points.
The biggest takeaway from this Real Madrid lineup is Dani Ceballos, who returns to the starting eleven for the first time after coming back from an injury.
The Spaniard was involved in Real Madrid’s last two matches, but he wasn’t match-fit to start either of them.
Kylian Mbappe is missing due to a suspension, which means Ancelotti is likely to adopt a more 4-4-2 shape during defensive phases.
In attacking phases, Jude Bellingham should occupy the number ten role, with Dani Ceballos and Luka Modric providing more creative support.
The Competition Committee’s decision was based on those facts, and as such, the red card was rightly rescinded.
Barcelona’s argument
Barcelona’s claim that this creates a competitive imbalance appears to be more rooted in frustration than in logic.
The governing bodies exist to assess each case individually, and in this instance, the evidence did not support the severity of the initial punishment.
To argue that a player should be suspended just because he plays for a rival team or might influence a future match sets a dangerous precedent.
Bellingham’s availability is simply the result of justice being served, not favouritism. It would be inappropriate to uphold a ban just to maintain some perception of “competitive balance”.
If the shoe were on the other foot, and a Barcelona player had a red card overturned on similar grounds, the club would likely celebrate it as fairness in action.
