Imagine the Champions League, even in its newly updated format, devoid of the legendary remontadas that have made it so captivating, particularly those by Real Madrid. In a thrilling encounter at the Etihad Stadium, Madrid secured a 3-2 victory over Manchester City, taking a significant advantage back to the iconic Santiago Bernabeu. Here are three key takeaways from this unforgettable match.

Strength on Real Madrid’s Right Flank

Lucas Vazquez has been the go-to right-back for Real Madrid this season, but just days before the crucial match against Manchester City, he was sidelined due to injury. This left Fede Valverde as the prime candidate for the defensive role. Remarkably, Real Madrid displayed their most robust defensive performance of the season during this match, largely thanks to Valverde’s exceptional presence at right-back.

This situation raises an interesting question: Real Madrid lacks a conventional right-back yet continues to deploy a right-winger in that position, which hasn’t yielded the desired results. Aside from potentially looking to Castilla for a solution, the best central midfielder in the squad was moved to fulfill the role. Of course, this arrangement is temporary until Vazquez is fit to return and reclaim his position.

However, what if Valverde were to continue as the right-back for all major fixtures until a new fullback is acquired or until Carvajal is back from his injury? While Vazquez might take the field in less demanding fixtures, Valverde’s presence in significant matches could provide the defensive stability that has been elusive for Madrid this season. Aside from the conceded goal, most of the threats faced by Real Madrid did not originate from their right side. Valverde’s performance felt like a refreshing dream, one no fan wanted to end.

While losing Valverde in midfield would undoubtedly have its drawbacks—more on that shortly—the improvement in defense might make a crucial difference in Real Madrid’s pivotal matches this season.

Outstanding Partnership: Tchouameni and Asencio

Though they haven’t played alongside each other long, Real Madrid’s makeshift defensive duo delivered an impressive performance that stood out among their joint appearances.

Surprisingly, fans were more concerned about Tchouameni’s game than Asencio’s. The young Spaniard has shown promise since his promotion to the senior team, but this matchup was arguably his best outing thus far.

Analyzing Tchouameni’s performance is a bit more nuanced. He has had strong showings in the past, including in this fixture, but given his struggles this season, fans were eager for him to regain his form. Thankfully, he delivered.

Tchouameni had his strongest showing at center-back this season, effectively managing the threat posed by Erling Haaland. With Antonio Rudiger absent, this made the task considerably more challenging, but Tchouameni rose to the occasion.

Even Ferland Mendy, who has faced criticism for his underwhelming performances throughout the season, stepped up in a meaningful way when it mattered, highlighting how Real Madrid manages to secure victories. It isn’t mere luck—though there might be a hint of that—but rather the players’ ability to rise to the occasion and capitalize on their opponents’ errors while trying to mitigate their own shortcomings.

This capacity to elevate their performance distinguishes exceptional teams from the very best, which is a key reason why Real Madrid consistently shines in this prestigious tournament.

Concerns in Real Madrid’s Midfield

As previously mentioned, the absence of their top central midfielder created notable challenges for Real Madrid.

With Valverde missing from midfield, Ancelotti opted for a double pivot featuring Eduardo Camavinga and Dani Ceballos, with Jude Bellingham positioned in front or slightly to the left.

Ceballos had a promising start, but his influence diminished as the match progressed, ultimately leading to a penalty that resulted in Manchester City’s second goal. Camavinga struggled as well, lacking the sharpness and fitness required for a game of this magnitude.

He appeared sluggish in possession and attempted too many risky passes in the first half that put his teammates under pressure. His game did improve in the second half when he adopted a more cautious approach, especially with Luka Modric alongside him.

Manchester City found it remarkably easy to navigate through Real Madrid’s compromised midfield for significant stretches of the match, a concern that Ancelotti must address before the return leg at the Bernabeu.