PETE JENSON: Jude Bellingham's arrival energised a tired Real Madrid midfield overrun by Man City... but are the Spanish giants better or worse than the side demolished last season?

The Real Madrid team that was beaten 5-1 on aggregate in last season’s Champions League semi-final by Manchester City has had a major midfield upgrade since that demolition at the Etihad. 

But while Jude Bellingham’s arrival is good news for Carlo Ancelotti, the Madrid coach is missing his world class goalkeeper and has only just got his best defender back. 

So is this a better or worse Madrid than the one that left the Etihad with its tail between its legs last season?

The keeper

Speaking on Spanish radio several weeks ago former Spain and Real Madrid keeper Santi Canizares referred to Thibaut Courtois as: ‘not just the best keeper in the world right now but the best I have ever seen.’ 

Last season the Belgian was Madrid’s best player in the second leg despite the 4-0 scoreline. 

Just recovered from a torn cruciate in his left knee he now has a torn meniscus in his right knee and so misses the game. 

Ukraine keeper Andriy Lunin will replace him. He has had a good season keeping Chelsea loanee Kepa Arrizabalaga out of the team. 

But nobody can replace Courtois.

Balance: Net loss

The defence

Also missing from the starting XI in the first leg will be Eder Militao. 

He had been on a bad run of form ahead of last season’s meeting with City but he remains Real Madrid’s best defender. He’s back from a cruciate tear but has only played a couple of minutes so will not start. 

In the centre of Madrid’s defence Antonio Rudiger holds everything together. He was brilliant in the first leg against Erling Haaland last season only to be left out of the second game as Ancelotti went with his favoured pair Militao and David Alaba (also currently injured). 

Alongside Rudiger will be Nacho – a former Spain international but still the weakest of Madrid’s four centre-backs. 

At right back Dani Carvajal is playing the best football of his career and at left back Ferland Mendy is solid and highly rated by Anclelotti who was without him last season.

Balance: Break even - no Militao and Alaba but Mendy, Rudiger and Carvajal are playing well.

The midfield

Bellingham has brought goals, assists and energy to a midfield that looked tired and overrun last season. 

Playing at the top of a diamond he’s La Liga’s player of the season and will help Madrid at both ends of the pitch with lung-busting runs back as City attack, and an attacking threat that will help them offer something more than just Vinicius in attack.

Toni Kroos will be the second name on the team-sheet in Ancelotti’s midfield. He has been outstanding and the only question is where he plays. 

If he plays at the base then Aurelien Tchouameni will miss out with Fede Valverde and Eduardo Camavinga playing either side. If Tchouameni plays as the holder then Camavinga might have to start on the bench where he’ll have Luka Modric for company. 

The Croatian has only started three Champions League games this season but is still a great option to have in reserve.

Balance: Net gain

The attack

Karim Benzema moved to Saudi Arabia last season and it’s debatable how much he’s been missed. 

Last year he was a notch below his extraordinary 2021-22 campaign and so his absence has not been felt as much as it might have been. But he remains a world-class player no longer at the club and Madrid’s most orthodox centre-forward now is 34-year-old Joselu. 

He has had a good year scoring 14 goals but Ancelotti tends to use him as a plan B. 

Madrid now play with Vinicius and Rodrygo as a very wide front two leaving a central space that Bellingham then fills from the top of midfield. When it works it’s spectacular but against better sides there is a sense that Madrid have a void where a centre-forward should be. 

Kylian Mbappe will give their attack more teeth next season but for now they must hope that the brilliant Vinicius can perform better than last season against City. 

He got a spectacular opener for Madrid in the first leg but spent much of the games in Kyle Walker’s top pocket.

Balance: Net loss - Madrid are caught between Benzema and Mbappe eras.

The bench

Ancelotti still had Eden Hazard for company on the Madrid bench last season. He didn’t come on of course. Current PSG reserve Marco Asensio tended to be the impact sub; there was not much more. 

This year things are different. 

Bellingham’s arrival has made Modric a strong option from the bench. And the presence of former City youngster Brahim Diaz gives Ancelotti some fizz to uncork late in games. The 24-year-old always makes an impact when introduced and he’ll have the added motivation of facing his former club. 

In Joselu Real Madrid also have guaranteed impact. The journeyman has let no-one down this season and will give the attack a focal point if he is used.