Carlo Ancelotti is, without doubt, one of the best head coaches in European football; so was anyone really surprised when he led Real Madrid to the La Liga title in his first campaign in charge at the Santiago Bernabeu?
He has added the Spanish title to those already won in France, Germany, England and Italy to become the first manager to win all five of Europe’s top leagues, and Ancelotti is one of only three head coaches to win the Champions League three times, twice with AC Milan and once with Real Madrid. And now he’s on the brink of adding his fourth Champions League when Los Blancos take on Liverpool, having already dispatched Premier League leaders Manchester City.
So he has one more big game to navigate this term, but Ancelotti is already planning for next season, with an eye on a resurgent Barcelona he wants the Madrid club to stay in control. The La Liga 2022 betting odds, for the start of the next campaign, are sure to back the Madrid giants but they cannot afford to stand still.
With 26 goals and 11 assists Karim Benzema has just got better and better, but the boss is determined not to be over reliant on the France star and, having watched Manchester City agree a deal to take Erling Braut Haaland to the Etihad, he is ready to move for another Galactico.
Paris Saint Germain star Kylian Mbappe has long been a fan of Los Blancos and reports in France suggest that Real Madrid are gearing up to announce his move to the Bernabeu as soon as the season comes to a close. PSG have just won the Ligue 1 title for a record equalling tenth time but they were dumped out of the Champions League by Real Madrid in the Round of 16, and it appears that Mbappe knows where he would rather be.
It’s looking increasingly likely that PSG are about to lose their most valuable asset.
Ancelotti has already agreed a deal to bring Chelsea centre back Antonio Rudiger to the Bernabeu on a four year contract worth around 400,000 Euros a week. The German defender has been a mainstay of Chelsea’s success over the last four seasons and has an FA Cup final to look forward to on Saturday but, at 29 years of age, he is ready for a new challenge.
With a Champions League final in view, these are exciting times for Los Blancos fans and Ancelotti is determined for the good years to carry on rolling.
Auba homing in on a record
The transfer of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Arsenal to Barcelona, in the January transfer window raised a few eyebrows in both North London and Catalonia. The Gabon star was suffering his worst campaign as a Gunner, while Barcelona too were having a miserable time in the second half of 2021.
But it has been a match made in heaven.
Auba took a big pay cut to move to the Camp Nou but he is set to be rewarded next season as he turned out to be head coach Xavi’s best move so far.
With just two games to play the Barca striker needs just two goals to equal a record, set by Racing Santander hit man Nicola Zigic in 2009, for the most goals scored in the league by a player arriving in January. Auba has bagged 11 in 15 league appearances, the sort of ratio which made him one of the Premier League’s most prolific strikers and Xavi has hailed him a ‘gift fallen from the sky’. Few Blaugrana fans will disagree.
After a poor first half of the campaign the Catalans have had a massive uplift in La Liga 2022 results and they can confirm their second place when they visit Getafe on Sunday. Auba will be on the hunt for goals but the hosts have their own man with an eye for goal, Enes Unal who has scored 15 for the season.
This week’s big games
Elsewhere there are more matters to be settled and Atletico Madrid can nail down their third place when they host fourth placed Sevilla at the Wanda Metropolitano. Los Rojiblancos are at SBOTOP odds of 2.15 to win with Sevilla at 2.91 and the draw at 3.11.
Sevilla are five points clear of Real Betis but Los Verdiblancos could keep their hopes of a top four place alive with a win over 16th placed Granada, who should be safe with a four point cushion, but mathematically can still go down. In 17th Cadiz have a good chance of survival, two points clear of the drop zone, but they host Real Madrid on Sunday. The hosts are at 2.71 to win, remarkably short for a game against the Champions but they may benefit from Real Madrid’s sole purpose; to add the Champions League to their domestic title.
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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