Carlo Ancelotti considering deploying a 4-4-2 formation to outplay Barcelona in Copa del Rey final | OneFootball

Real Madrid will be desperate to secure all three points against Athletic Club at Santiago Bernabeu, failing which could spell trouble for coach Carlo Ancelotti.

However, the Italian is confident of his team, despite a 5-1 defeat to Arsenal in the Champions League, and is already thinking ahead.

Ancelotti is particularly thinking about the upcoming Copa Del Rey final against Real Madrid on April 26, which could prove to be an acid test for the Italian.

It must be noted that Real Madrid have struggled badly against Hansi Flick’s team this season. They were thrashed 4-0 in La Liga and dismantled 5-2 in the Spanish Super Cup final.

Ancelotti considering a 4-4-2 against Barcelona

In both these matches, Ancelotti’s preferred 4-3-3 formation failed to deliver. The midfield looked disconnected, the attack lacked fluency, and defensively, Madrid were carved open repeatedly by Barcelona’s rapid transitions.

Can Ancelotti finally crack the code against Barcelona? (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

To tackle this exact problem, Ancelotti is considering deploying a 4-4-2 formation against Barcelona this time around, reports Radio MARCA.

The idea behind the change is to add more solidity in midfield and to reduce the exposure in wide areas, where Barcelona have thrived.

By sacrificing a forward, Madrid could gain better control in the middle of the park and offer more protection to the backline.

By doing this, Real Madrid might also be taking a page out of Borussia Dortmund’s book. In the second leg, the German giants were able to populate the midfield, which worked wonders and helped them secure a 3-1 victory.

Real Madrid are hoping for a similar result as Ancelotti looks to preserve his status at the club by delivering the Copa Del Rey.