According to reports, Real Madrid has recently faced a noticeable decline in form from its three attacking stars: Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, and Rodrygo. This offensive slump, combined with defensive weaknesses due to an overemphasis on attack, has caused Carlo Ancelotti’s team to falter at a crucial stage of the season.

Ancelotti believed in the preseason that relying on the physicality of midfielders like Tchouameni, Camavinga, and Valverde could compensate for midfield deficiencies and propel the team to success using the attacking trio’s firepower. This strategy worked to some extent during the season, but with the sudden dip in form of these three players, Real Madrid has encountered serious problems.

Since the loss to Espanyol on February 2, Real Madrid has won only 10 out of 19 matches, suffering six defeats and three draws. Mbappe, with 11 goals in seven games, was the only player showing some consistency, but he has failed to score in the last five matches and has been absent in key moments. Vinicius and Rodrygo have been in worse form; Vinicius has scored only four goals in these 19 games, two of which were inconsequential in defeats, while Rodrygo has netted just once in the Champions League and has completely faded.

In addition to their attacking decline, the lack of defensive contributions from these three players has left Real Madrid vulnerable in critical moments. In recent matches, including against Arsenal, these players rarely created chances, and their impact was minimal. The result of this slump has been Real Madrid’s failure to maintain stability and a loss of hope in major competitions. Without the brilliance of this trio, Real Madrid’s paradise is out of reach.

Tonight, one side of this triangle, Mbappe, will be unavailable, while Real Madrid is under pressure to win after recent failures. It remains to be seen what lineup Ancelotti will deploy in the absence of the French star. Any result other than a win will likely provoke white handkerchief protests from the stands.