Debate: Can Real Madrid make a great comeback against Alcorcon?

The truest test of character is evidenced by the way in which one reacts to adversity. Where the weak lose their fighting spirit, shy away from pressure, and surrender to obstacles – be they tangible or intangible – standing before them, those with a reservoir of strength grit their teeth and fight back with even more determination, zeal, and a stronger will not to fail than before.

This season, Madrid have responded to adversity in much the same fashion. Subjected to a humiliating 4-0 drubbing to Segunda B outfit Alcorcon in a match that could easily have finished with a far more embarrassing scoreline, criticism (and the instability that comes with it) surrounded the club. Fans were calling for a coaching change, the press was screaming bloody murder, and Florentino Perez’s €254 million project was very harshly criticised as nothing more than a marketing campaign.

But as has become wont from the Men in White over the past few years, they responded with results. Limited to ten men in the 27th minute of their match against Getafe, the Merengues went on to dominate Los Azulones, scoring two goals through Higuain whilst rarely being threatened by the southern Madrid side. In European competition, Los Blancos took control of AC Milan in the San Siro and, while the second half afforded the Italians more chances, the draw was widely considered an impressive point of improvement.

But the true test of mettle comes in an unlikely opponent on Tuesday as Real Madrid look to reverse their 4-0 deficit to AD Alcorcon in a bid to avoid an embarrassing elimination in the Copa del Rey and progress to the next round. Matches like this can define a season and Manuel Pellegrini’s side are in high spirits after finding their form in their last three outings. But is scoring at least four goals against the Segunda B minnows (and not conceding) a Mission: Impossible for Los Blancos?

In Tuesday’s Copa match, Pellegrini will be forced into a trade-off. Should he field his regular starting XI for this elimination match, there is little doubt that Los Blancos will be able to put at least four goals past Alcorcon in the Santiago Bernabeu and turn the tie completely on its head.

But having played three consecutive high-octane matches, his starters will be beginning to feel the effects of fatigue and the Chilean coach will be risking irreplaceable components of his team (Kaka, Xabi, and Lass, to name a few) to injury should he refuse to make changes to his squad.

Whether Madrid are able to overcome a four-goal deficit to beat Alcorcon without utilising their starting lineup is uncertain. But based on this team’s sense of determination over the past few years, drilled into them by Capello, there is little doubt that Madrid will be out for blood in Tuesday’s Bernabeu match, regardless of who is on the pitch.

Should they prevail, it could set the stage for them to take the next step toward becoming a squad that will compete for all three championships. Should they fail, while many Madridistas will dismiss it as ‘only the Copa del Rey anyway’ it could foretell a finish to the season that will only be able to be described as second best.