Ancelotti's side beat Valencia, but are missing two important players

Asensio and Vinicius provide the goals, Militao and Benzema the injuries

photo_camera AFP/JAVIER SORIA - Real Madrid players celebrate the second goal scored by Real Madrid's Brazilian striker Vinicius Junior during the Spanish La Liga football match between Real Madrid CF and Valencia CF at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium

What Ancelotti is clear about is that Real Madrid's squad must have more than 13 players available and involved this season. His hard core no longer exists and between now and June he is not going to be obsessed with Modric and Kroos in midfield at all costs.

Against Valencia, Ceballos and Asensio started in addition to the usual Camavinga and Nacho. In addition to those players, Tchouaméni and Carvajal, recovered from injury, Valverde and Rodrygo were given minutes. Even Valverde was rested. The large bench is evident, but also the fact that Benzema has no substitute. 

Mariano and Hazard do not count for Ancelotti, who has already said on several occasions that he is not the Real Madrid coach to give minutes to players, he is the coach to win games. Benzema is starting to get injured regularly and there is no replacement with goals on the bench.  

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Against Valencia, Real Madrid again suffered another disallowed goal for a foul by Benzema that the VAR should never have been involved in. Football under the gaze of a microscope is not football and if every play is going to be analysed in such a meticulous manner, they should prepare for 200-minute soporific matches.  

The first goal was scored by a left-footed Asensio who is crying out for his renewal, just like Ceballos who needs the ball to feel comfortable on the pitch. The second was Vinicius' trademark two minutes later with one of those finishes that years ago he sent into the top corner.  

With those two goals Real Madrid had the game wrapped up with half an hour to go. Valencia are living a life outside of sport that will end up sending them to the second division at some point.  

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Mamardashvili is the club's main asset alongside Gayá. Cavani is a killer, but he has no one to serve him balls and the club's owners already hear the sound of money if they put those players up for sale and do business, which is what they are there for.  

Paulista is another of those players who feels the Valencia colours much more than other teammates. His frustration led him to give a nasty kick to Vinicius that was a little reminiscent of Pepe's kick to Casquero. The impotence of defeat and the fact that things don't work out.  

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Ancelotti was a gentleman in taking the heat out of the matter and not making blood with Paulista. He avoided being devoured by the media pack and put the focus back on Vinicius.  

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The Italian was more concerned about injuries. A few days ago he was convinced that Real Madrid did not need any signings and against Valencia he saw that Militao's injury could be more serious than it seems. He played down the importance of Benzema's injury, but will rest him again against Mallorca.  

The Frenchman will be left for the big games. Nobody wants to think about him accepting the offer from Saudi Arabia and leaving the club in June because there is no replacement. Vlahović is the only option for immediate return and Juventus will have to sell after the sanction that leaves them without Champions League income.  

The first half of the season ends with Barcelona as leaders, five points behind Real Madrid and with only seven goals conceded, compared to 16 for Los Blancos.  

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With just a few weeks to go before Liverpool and Manchester United cross paths with the Spanish teams, La Liga is going to be a two-horse race, and of the two, the one who makes the fewest mistakes. 

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