On January 4th at dawn, in the make-up match of the 12th round of La Liga, Real Madrid faced Valencia away from home. Real Madrid started the game trailing, followed by Bellingham missing a penalty, Mbappe's goal being disallowed for offside, and Vinicius being sent off with a red card. Despite these difficulties, Real Madrid managed to turn the game around, defeating Valencia 2-1, showcasing Ancelotti's excellent coaching abilities. Coach Ancelotti adapts his tactics! Switching to a 4-2-3-1 formation, he has activated the core of Real Madrid, contributing to 6 goals in 6 games and leading the team to the top of La Liga.
Real Madrid conceded a goal in the 27th minute when Guedes' shot was saved by Courtois, but Duro scored on the rebound with no one marking him, putting Real Madrid behind 0-1. In the 55th minute, after Mbappe created a penalty, Bellingham hit the post with his shot. In the 61st minute, Mbappe's solo goal over the goalkeeper was ruled offside. In the 79th minute, Vinicius was sent off for maliciously pushing down Valencia goalkeeper Dimitrievski.
In the 85th minute, Bellingham set up Modric to equalize for Real Madrid. In the 95th minute, Bellingham intercepted the ball in the frontcourt and scored the winning goal. Currently, Real Madrid, having played one more game than Atletico Madrid, leads the league by 2 points. Barcelona, with the same number of games as Real Madrid, is 5 points behind and ranks third. Real Madrid has been in great form recently, with a strong momentum, and Ancelotti's tactical changes have been crucial.
After losing to Athletic Bilbao, Ancelotti began using the 4-2-3-1 formation, with Bellingham playing behind Mbappe, essentially as an attacking midfielder or the No. 10 position. This appears to be the most suitable formation for Real Madrid, as they have achieved a record of 5 wins and 1 draw since the defeat to Athletic Bilbao, during which Bellingham has played a significant role, scoring 4 goals and providing 2 assists.
Real Madrid has many star players, but in reality, Bellingham is the most irreplaceable player for the team. By allowing Bellingham to play in his preferred position and making him comfortable, Real Madrid's performance improves. In the match against Valencia, Bellingham missed a penalty but later held his nerve to contribute 1 pass and 1 shot, being fouled 6 times in the game, winning 13 out of 20 duels, with 1 dribble, 3 interceptions, 1 tackle, and 1 clearance.
Bellingham can exert his influence on both offense and defense, and he possesses a big heart, often becoming the hero in moments of desperation for the team. Compared to Bellingham, Vinicius appears quite immature, and other players like Mbappe and Rodrygo do not have as significant an impact as Bellingham. To manage the new generation of Real Madrid's "Galacticos," Coach Ancelotti must utilize Bellingham effectively.