Real Madrid have generally performed well in the Champions League when the pressure is on and their trip to Atalanta on Tuesday promises to be crucial for the holders. The club, which holds a record of 15 titles, has lost three of their opening five games and is 24th in the table, with places 25-36 eliminated at the end of the group stage. Carlo Ancelotti's side travel to Bergamo this week before hosting RB Salzburg and then head to Brest with their futures on the line. fifth.
Madrid, meanwhile, has been plagued by many problems, including a difficult fit for superstar Kylian Mbappe, who signed this summer, and several key players sidelined with injuries.
Italian coach Ancelotti has tried to ease the pressure on former Paris Saint-Germain forward Mbappé, 25, who has scored 11 goals in 21 games since joining Real. in Real.
"He is not at his best, but we have to give him time to adapt," Ancelotti said last week. "He can do better and he is working to get there."
While Mbappé's goal rate is not particularly worrying, his performances leave much to be desired given his status as one of the best players in the world.
Recent missed penalties against Liverpool in the Champions League and Athletic Bilbao in La Liga, both of which ended in defeat, have increased the focus. Mbappé, who has also had problems off the pitch. The striker was not part of France's last two teams, is in dispute with PSG over an unpaid salary claim, and is also believed to be under investigation in Sweden for a rape case.
"I haven't received anything, no call. I read the same as everyone else. The Swedish government hasn't said anything, I'm not involved," Mbappé told Canal+ on Sunday.
Important absences
Real Madrid have lost key defenders Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao, both with knee injuries.
Midfielder Aurélien Tchouameni, who Ancelotti has brought back to the emergency department in the past, has also been injured and is only just returning.
Real Madrid will also have to do without Ferland Mendy, Eduardo Camavinga, and David Alaba for the trip to Atalanta.
The good news is the return of Brazilian wingers Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo Goes.
However, Vinicius' expected return reopens a debate that was in full swing before he injured his hamstring two weeks ago.
The Ballon d'Or runner-up likes to play on the left wing, which is also Mbappe's preferred position.
After using Mbappe as a central defender for most of the season so far, Ancelotti finally switched him for a game before Vinicius picked up an injury.
The coach cited the French striker's international break as the reason for his placement in the side, while Vinicius was he later returned to play in South America.
Ancelotti suggested Mbappé's struggles were not just his fault, but a consistency issue affecting the whole team.
Despite accepting criticism of Real's form, having already lost five games in all competitions, having only stumbled twice last season, Ancelotti said his team must bounce back.
"It's not a funeral - we've always fought in all competitions," Ancelotti said last week after Real's defeat at Athletic, their fifth of these. defeats.
"We have to be optimistic, given the problems we've had and will have.
" But we have to be optimistic because we have a quality team. We haven't been able to get back to our best form, but I'm sure we will sooner or later."
With a big 3-0 win over Girona on Saturday in La Liga, a show of strength at Atalanta could start to ease concerns in the Spanish capital.
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