BREAKING NEWS: Carlo Ancelotti Makes Major Change to Real Madrid’s Penalty Taker After Vinicius Jr.’s Miss
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has reportedly decided to hand Kylian Mbappé the role of the team’s primary penalty taker, following Vinicius Jr.’s missed penalty against Valencia in their recent 2-1 defeat. The Brazilian forward had the opportunity to give Los Blancos the lead early in the match, but his penalty was saved by Giorgi Mamardashvili. Although Vinicius later found the net, his miss ultimately contributed to the team’s loss.
As per Marca via GOAL, Ancelotti has removed Vinicius from the penalty-taking duties, with Mbappé set to take over starting with Real Madrid’s upcoming Champions League quarter-final match against Arsenal. Both Vinicius and Mbappé have missed two penalties each this season, but with Jude Bellingham also available as a backup option, Real Madrid appears to have several alternatives should the need arise.
This shift comes at a pivotal moment as Real Madrid face Arsenal in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-finals at the Emirates Stadium on April 8, 2025. Los Blancos find themselves four points behind Barcelona in the La Liga standings with just eight games remaining, adding extra pressure on their European aspirations.
Meanwhile, Arsenal legend Emmanuel Petit has weighed in on the upcoming clash, claiming that his former team has the potential to defeat Real Madrid. Petit emphasizes the importance of containing Madrid’s attacking trio—Vinicius Jr, Mbappé, and Bellingham—while being clinical in front of goal. Despite Arsenal’s recent struggles, Petit believes that if the Gunners can hold their defensive line and seize scoring opportunities, they stand a chance against Real Madrid’s clinical a
ttack.
