Madrid, Spain — E be like say Real Madrid no get joy as dem prepare for wetin fit be dem biggest trial dis season against Deportivo Alavés for La Liga. Tomorrow na the game, 9:00 PM CET, and gatz prepare well, but e no go easy o. Injury wahala don scatter dem plan, and na so Xabi Alonso dey think am.
As dem finish dem last training for Real Madrid City, dem begin with video session wey go ginger dem, then head straight to gym to activate body (jump like say dem dey start Olympic). Outside for pitch, na serious game work wey dem dey do. Dem do rondos, group combinations, and some finishing drills. Talk say dem no fit train well because dem get injured players wey dey recover, but still, dem sabi find way to ginger zero-fail mentality.
Aha! E no be joke because dem dey face wahala as no be all gree join body. You fit see say six players dey out because of injuries: Dani Carvajal, David Alaba, Éder Militão, Ferland Mendy, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Eduardo Camavinga. No be small problem dis o. Na like film wey dey play, because just as dem dey prepare for a must-win match, dem dey without almost all dem natural defenders. E no too sweet for coach Xabi!
Now, since no be football wey we fit just depend on luck, Alonso dey bring strategy wey go work. E fit decide to put Fede Valverde for right-back, and we fit see Antonio Rüdiger join am; and oh, make we not forget Valdepeñas wey go dey make im senior debut. Wahala don plenty! But as dem yarn say: necessity na di mama of invention, and this match go be moment of truth for dem.
If Rüdiger no fit start, e go fit allow Aurélien Tchouaméni go defend central position, dey pair am with Dean Huijsen, as dem fit shuffle players like say na chess dem dey play (but e go weak dem midfield). With Valverde dey handle right, it go be like say dem dey juggle fire while dey dance.
As usual, make we no forget Kylian Mbappé, wey dey ready to shine bright even though hin fitness dey shaky. Na must win match this! If dem lose e, e go hard for dem to catch any breath as di title race na brutal jungle.
Hope say dem go manage balance between attack and defense well. Coach dey cross fingers say dem midfield fit strike the right chord as Bellingham dey need to step up as de captain for dis match. Di expected trio up front na Rodrygo, Vinícius, and Mbappé. Na dem go carry the weight of Real Madrid on dem shoulders!
Game no go fit be about structure, na mentality and game savviness go matter. Na who fit manage pressure go win betta. So, all eyes go dey on Real Madrid to see how dem go play dis final wey fit decide dem fate. Nigeria no go sleep for dis one!
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