Eden Hazard is in contention to feature after being passed fit, while Rodrygo and Vinicius Junior are in line to start for Real Madrid against Real Valladolid.
Real Madrid will be looking to pick up their second victory of the 2020/21 La Liga campaign when they play hosts to Real Valladolid at Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano.
Ahead of the game, manager Zinedine Zidane has been handed a injury boost as Eden Hazard and Marco Asensio are both fit and available after missing the first two matches of the season. Marcelo is also back in contention and has been named in the 23-man squad. However, Toni Kroos, Mariano Diaz and Eder Militao are unavailable.
? Our 23-man squad for tomorrow's match against @realvalladolidE!#RMLiga | #RealMadridRealValladolid pic.twitter.com/nsTvO37Zbz
— Real Madrid C.F. ???? (@realmadriden) September 29, 2020
Zidane could make a few changes to the side that defeated Real Betis narrowly this past weekend. However, no alterations are expected in defence, with Thibaut Courtois continuing in goal, where he will be shielded by the backline of Dani Carvajal, Raphael Varane, captain Sergio Ramos and Ferland Mendy.
Up ahead in the middle of the park, there will be an enforced change due to Kroos’s injury. Luka Modric is expected to walk into the starting lineup in place of the German. He will occupy one of the three midfield slots, with Casemiro and Federico Valverde, who scored in the previous game, filling up the remaining two places.
Zidane opted to go with a twin-striker system with Martin Odegaard playing in the hole behind the two forwards last time out. However, the manager is likely to revert to a 4-3-3 formation on Wednesday night against Valladolid, meaning the Norwegian could be given a break after starting both of Real Madrid’s matches this season.
Hazard’s return is a boost for Real Madrid. However, the Belgian wing-wizard is unlikely to start against Valladolid, with Zidane claiming that he is still closing in on peak fitness. “He’s very close. He’s training with the team and the only thing is that we know he hasn’t trained much so far. That’s the only thing,” Zidane said in his pre-match presser.
Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo started the opening game against Real Sociedad, but were left out of the side last time out. However, the Brazilian duo are expected to return to the playing XI on Wednesday night. There is no looking past last season’s top scorer Karim Benzema in the centre-forward slot for Real Madrid.
Predicted Real Madrid XI: Courtois; Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Mendy; Modric, Casemiro, Valverde; Rodrygo, Benzema, Vinicius
