A POR LA 15 – Daily Thread: 30 May 2024

The Daily Merengue is a place where you can feel free to discuss all things football. Do not be alarmed by the overt RMCF bias. It’s in the name!

Shoutout to the mods who do a fantastic job, Felipejack, Kung_Fu_Zizou, Juninho, NeRObutBlanco and yours truly, Valyrian Steel.

Two days to go!!

Preparations continue at Valdebebas and the squad got a visit from Florentino Perez as well.

Key Battles.

Vinicius Jr. vs Julian Ryerson – The Norwegian full-back came up against Kylian Mbappe in the last round and delivered at the highest level. He has been solid on the right side of the BVB defence, and people are starting to take note of his excellent defensive performances. Vini Jr. will offer another tough test depending on whether he plays wide or drifts more centrally to accommodate Rodrygo.

Jadon Sancho vs Ferland Mendy – After an unsuccessful spell at Manchester United, Jadon Sancho has managed to rediscover his old magic at Borussia Dortmund. His performance in the first leg against PSG clearly demonstrated that he is still an elite player capable of shining bright under the Champions League lights. If Borussia Dortmund are to pull off an upset in the final, the skills and creativity of Sancho will be crucial in this tie. The forward will hope for a memorable return to London, but will be up against it as he takes on Real Madrid left-back Ferland Mendy. The Frenchman has managed to find form at the right time and has cemented his place in the Real Madrid XI. This should be a very intriguing battle between two quality players.

Jude Bellingham vs Mats Hummels – Having just been named La Liga player of the season Jude Bellingham has exceeded all expectations in his first season at Real Madrid. Operating in a hybrid role he’s become a sort of secret weapon going forward. Hummels who’s been impressive throughout the tournament will certainly have his hands full. The veteran defender is chasing Champions League glory for the first time.

ICYMI: Managing Madrid Podcast

This latest exclusive podcast episode, hosted by Kiyan Sobhani and Eduardo Alvarez, delves deep into the current tumultuous state of Barcelona, explores the media frenzy around Toni Kroos’s future, and reflects on Real Madrid’s growth and challenges. Give it a listen.