Carlo Ancelotti’s huge gamble pays off as Real Madrid put another trophy at risk

Before the end of 2024, Real Madrid clinched two of the seven trophies they had been targeting this season, although 2025 hasn’t started the way they would’ve hoped. The UEFA Super Cup and the Intercontinental Cup are in the bag, but the Spanish Super Cup is no longer on the table. Los Blancos have made life difficult for themselves in LaLiga and the Champions League, and Carlo Ancelotti survived taking a huge gamble in the Copa del Rey.

Real Madrid’s weakened team against Leganés

On Wednesday (February 5), Madrid made the short trip to Leganés in the quarterfinals of the Spanish Cup, a game in which Ancelotti opted to leave out a number of his major stars.

Although Vinicius Jr was named on the bench and came on at half time, there was no sign of star duo Kylian Mbappé or Jude Bellingham in the matchday squad. On top of that, goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was also left out, adding to the absences of injured quintet Antonio Rüdiger, Eduardo Camavinga, David Alaba, Eder Militão and Dani Carvajal.

Gonzalo García the cup hero for Real Madrid vs Leganes

However, Madrid did just about enough to get the job done. Carlo Ancelotti’s team looked to be cruising into the semifinals after going 2-0 up inside 25 minutes through Luka Modric and Endrick. However, Leganés levelled the clash thanks to two Juan Cruz goals either side of halftime.

Just when it looked as if the contest was going to extra time, youngster Gonzalo García, who came on for Endrick with only eight minutes left to play, headed in Brahim Díaz’s right-wing cross with one of the last touches of the game three minutes into injury time.

Why didn’t Mbappé and Bellingham play against Leganés in the Copa del Rey today?

Ancelotti revealed Mbappé and Bellingham were suffering from minor injuries and therefore wouldn’t be risked. Courtois was also rested for the cup game, with a crucial LaLiga derby against Atlético Madrid coming up at the Santiago Bernabéu on Saturday (February 8).

After their controversial defeat to Espanyol last weekend, Ancelotti’s team are now just one point clear of their city rivals at the top of the LaLiga. Having three of his top stars raring to go for that top-of-the-table clash has been deemed more important than the Leganés cup tie.

Madrid set for fixture congestion

On top of that, Madrid’s gruelling run of fixtures continues immediately after the derby because of their inability to finish in the top eight of the league phase of the Champions League. They must take on Manchester City in a two-legged playoff (February 11 and 19), either side of a league game against Osasuna, to ensure they reach the round of 16.

The next few weeks could have a major bearing on a number of different competitions, and whether Real Madrid’s season is deemed a successful one or not. Ensuring key players stay as fresh as possible will be key for Ancelotti, so expect his injury-hit squad to be further rotated whenever the opportunity allows it.

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.

Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.