Carlo Ancelotti will need to make several tactical adjustments ahead of Real Madrid’s upcoming match against Real Sociedad on Saturday.
Due to injuries in the squad, the Italian has no choice but to make significant changes to his starting line-up, and he will be looking to the bench for answers.
Interestingly, two players who could benefit from this situation are Brahim Diaz and Arda Guler. Both have been regular substitutes under Ancelotti but have recently caught the eye with impressive performances for their national teams, Morocco and Turkey, respectively.
Their form on the international stage has sent a clear message to the manager, showing that they are ready to step up and contribute at the club level.
A look at their performance
Brahim, representing Morocco, delivered standout performances during the international break. He found the back of the net in Morocco’s convincing 4-1 win over Gabon and followed it up with a crucial last-minute goal in a narrow 0-1 victory against Lesotho.
Despite playing just 33 minutes in the latter match, Brahim’s 93rd-minute winner was vital for his country, demonstrating his ability to make an impact in critical moments.
These two goals, in only six appearances for Morocco, have undoubtedly increased his confidence ahead of his return to club football.
On the other hand, Guler shone for Turkey during their 3-1 victory over Iceland. He assisted one of the goals. This contribution adds to Guler’s growing tally for his national team, where he now has three assists and two goals in just eight appearances.
Notably, Guler showed resilience by recovering from an injury he picked up against Wales.
With both players in excellent form, Ancelotti will certainly be considering their inclusion in the starting line-up against Real Sociedad.
Their recent performances may well be enough to convince the manager that they deserve more game time in what promises to be a challenging fixture since Jude Bellingham, Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni are all expected to miss through injuries.