Wednesday is crunch time for Champions League holders Real Madrid. The Liga BBVA giants will lock horns with city rivals Atletico Madrid, with progression to the semis up for grabs for both side.
For Los Blancos boss Carlo Ancelotti, though, much more is at stake than a spot in the last 4. La Liga’s second-placed team have not enjoyed a good track record against Los Rojiblancos, this term, having met seven times, losing four and drawing three.
According to Goal, if Real Madrid are knocked out of the competition by Atletico, the board will replace their Italian manager in the summer. This is a drastic move considering that the former AC Milan boss won four major trophies last season and has the full backing of the dressing room.
As written in the report, the 10-time Champions League winners’ fate in La Liga will not factor into the Real Madrid board’s decision. This means, with 6 games remaining, snatching the league crown from Barcelona will not be enough to save Ancelotti’s job.
Only a win at the Bernabeu will hand Carlito a lifeline. This may prove difficult, however, considering his side will be without Luka Modric, Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, and Marcelo for Wednesday’s game.
Ancelotti admitted that grabbing a win will not be easy, saying:
"We have not beaten Atletico this season because they are a very strong side with one of the most solid defences in the world. It is difficult to score goals against them.
"It will be a close game, hard-fought in all areas and intense. I do not think that Atletico will be in a hurry to score and neither will we."
Real have not beaten Atletico in 7 encounters, this season
Diego Simeone’s crew is undefeated against Les Merengues. In fact, Atletico, in their three fixtures at Santiago Bernabeu, have already won once, registering a 2-1 victory in the Spanish Primera Division. Twice they ended in draws, finishing 1-1 in one occasion, and 2-2 in the other, all score lines enough to see Koke and Co. make the semis at Ronaldo and Co.'s expense.
But a victory is all that will guarantee Ancelotti stays next season. Could this be end of his stay at Real Madrid?
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