Real Madrid have not made the blazing start they expected this season after bringing in Kylian Mbappe to join their Champions League and La Liga winning team. In order to get the Frenchman into the starting line-up, Carlo Ancelotti has had to adapt his system and it looks like the players will need some time to get used to not only the new formation but also their teammate.
Real Madrid have drawn two of their first three league games this season, and much has been said about the combination of Mbappe and Vinicius Junior.
Both are at their best when coming forward from the left, so it was always going to be a challenge for Ancelotti to put both of them in the same starting line-up.
Mbappe plays more of a central role, while Vinicius comes in from the left. However, it is not a rigid system. As AS reports, when asked if he would consider switching their positions, Ancelotti said:
“They have alternated, but Vinicius has played more on the left and will continue to do so.”
So it looks like Ancelotti is not thinking of changing his team after just three games and that is the sensible approach. The players need some time to grow together and get things going.
The problem has been Barcelona's form at the start of the season. They have won all three of their games, meaning they are already four points ahead of Real Madrid in the title race. However, it is still early days and that lead could change in a week depending on how both teams perform.
There is no reason to panic at the moment. There will always be some initial difficulties when a team not only plays a new system but also tries to integrate a superstar.
