Carlo Ancelotti teases huge Real Madrid change for Arsenal showdown

Carlo Ancelotti is looking to make changes after Real Madrid were beaten by Valencia in their final game before the Champions League quarter-final against Arsenal

Carlo Ancelotti is set to strip Vinicius Junior of penalty-taking responsibilities ahead of Real Madrid’s clash with Arsenal. Los Blancos travel to the Emirates on Tuesday for the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.

Both teams head into the game on the back of disappointing results. The Gunners threw away a lead to be held to a frustrating draw by Everton on Saturday lunchtime, while Madrid were beaten by Valencia just a few hours later.

Mouctar Diakhaby put the visitors in front before Vinicius equalised just after half-time, with Hugo Duro scoring a last-gasp winner. Vinicius was booed off as he was substituted, having missed a penalty when the game was still goalless.

It was the Brazilian’s second successive miss from the penalty spot, having also failed in the Champions League last 16 against Atletico Madrid. Penalties have been a huge problem for Madrid this season.

Alongside Vinicius, Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham have both missed spot-kicks this term. Four of those five misses led to defeats, against Atletico, Valencia, Liverpool and Athletic Bilbao.

READ MORE: Real Madrid suffer nightmare Arsenal preparation thanks to forgotten Liverpool starREAD MORE: Mikel Arteta makes confident Arsenal trophy vow ahead of Real Madrid clash

In fact, in Madrid’s last two penalty shootouts, Bellingham and defender Antonio Rudiger are the only two players to have scored in both. While Mbappe struggled from the spot earlier this season, Ancelotti has hinted he will now take over from Vinicius.

“We’ll see,” the Italian said when asked directly if Mbappe would become the penalty taker. “We missed several: Bellingham, Mbappé, and Vini. I tried to give him confidence, but he missed. I don’t think they’ll affect him. He always gives his all, whether he plays well or not.”

Madrid are now four points behind La Liga leaders Barcelona, though they have reached the final of the Copa del Rey. They also have a chance of retaining the Champions League title they won last season.

But first they will have to overcome Arsenal, with a European crown their only remaining chance of silverware this term. And Ancelotti is expecting a difficult test from Mikel Arteta’s men following Saturday’s reverse.

“It’s harder to win the league now, but we have to do things well until the end. We have far fewer options. We’ll fight until the end, for sure,” he said after the defeat to Valencia.

“It’s not a physical problem or a lack of football. We created a lot of chances. We lacked a bit of effectiveness. It’s not hard for our opponents to score against us at this point. Complaining is useless. It’s not an attitude problem, not at all.

“This isn’t a deserved defeat. Could things have been done better? Yes, but it’s not a lack of attitude. We deserved to win, but it wasn’t because of the small details. It will be different, because Arsenal will attack more.”

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