Why Real Madrid’s fortunes against Man City will be decided by substitutes

As Real Madrid gear up for arguably their most important match of the season, coach Xabi Alonso has announced his starting eleven.

The Spaniard, who is under pressure to deliver, has made some eye-catching changes to the starting eleven, including a start for Gonzalo Garcia.

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This will be Garcia’s second start of the season as Kylian Mbappe is not fit enough to start, following a knee injury against Celta Vigo.

However, the Frenchman remains an option on the bench and could make an impact on the proceedings, along with a few other players on the same bench.

Substitutes to play a crucial role

Xabi Alonso’s lineup decision, at least on paper, looks very aggressive. It seems the team is looking to mirror a more direct-looking Man City side this season – a team that is overly dependent on Erling Haaland.

By doing so, Alonso has also pivoted from a 4-4-2 formation that has been used in recent weeks, in which midfielders and Fran Garcia have operated in flexible roles.

Mastantuon could be an option from the bench. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

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However, in a 4-3-3, Real Madrid won’t enjoy that same level of flexibility and given Man City’s style of play, counter-attacks could become crucial.

Real Madrid would require pace on the break. And while the team has started with Vinicius Jr. and Rodrygo, they will lack the cutting edge of someone like Mbappe.

This is precisely why the choice of substitutes could become crucial tonight against Man City. Alonso, after all, if not Mbappe, has the services of stars such as Arda Guler, Franco Mastantuono and Brahim sitting on the bench.

Mastantuono, in particular, is an interesting case. Real Madrid have clearly struggled without him. Tonight, he could be a unique case because he operates effectively in the half space.

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Unlike a traditional winger who stays wide, he drifts inside, acting as a connector. If the direct counter-attacks aren’t working, Mastantuono can come on to disrupt City’s marking scheme.

If the midfield gets overrun, Alonso can introduce Brahim or Güler to drop deeper and help progress the ball. This restores a degree of the “flexibility” lost by abandoning the 4-4-2, especially in the latter half of the game.