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Winning trophies is the expectation at Real Madrid. While Los Blancos are playing in the Copa Del Rey final Saturday against Osasuna and still in Champions League, with a semifinals date with Manchester City kicking off on Tuesday. this season threatens to be a disappointment even with them capturing the Club World Cup. Given their opponents, while Real will have a chance to advance in Europe, all their eggs need to be in the Copa Del Rey final as it’s the most likely tournament that they can win.
Manager Carlo Ancelotti’s future is up in the air with not only rumors of a move to coach Brazil coming up but given the sky-high expectations in Madrid. Without trophies (and, if we’re being honest, even with them) the team could decide that they’d want to move in a different direction, so emerging from their matchup with Osasuna with a trophy will be vital to determining what happens next at the Santiago Bernabeu. It has been a transition season for Los Blancos and with Xabi Alonso doing well in Germany and Jude Bellingham possibly joining during the summer, it could be a time to move into a new era, though if Ancelotti walks away with a couple more trophies that future could again be delayed.
Whether this is the last ride for Ancelotti before he moves into his next era or a job saving game, the pressure is on. With an aging core, it’s important for Real Madrid to win this game to ensure that no matter how Champions League goes, the season will end on a high note. Barcelona’s resurgence has already cost Real Madrid the Spanish Super Cup and will cost them La Liga but the return of the rivalry between Spain’s top clubs will be good in the long run.
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Date: Saturday, May 6 Time: 4 p.m. ETLocation: Estadio Olimpico de Sevilla — Sevilla, SpainTV: None