Luka Modric will return to the Real Madrid starting lineup against Barcelona in the final El Clasico of the 2024/25 season on Sunday.
Real Madrid will aim to reduce the gap to the top of the La Liga table when they lock horns with Barcelona at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on Sunday afternoon. Carlo Ancelotti has no new injury concerns hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Antonio Rudiger, Ferland Mendy, David Alaba, Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao, and Eduardo Camavinga remain on the sidelines. They will unlikely feature again for the reigning La Liga champions this weekend. However, Rodrygo is in the travelling squad to take on Barcelona on Sunday.
Meanwhile, during his pre-match press conference, Ancelotti provided a fitness update on Rodrygo. The Italian tactician also discussed a possible strategy of using set pieces in crucial junctures.
The Real Madrid manager said, “He has trained well all week and is recovering from the fever he had last week. We don’t have many options for the starting lineup because there are a lot of players out. He’s an important option for us, as is Arda.”
Speaking about the set-piece situations, Ancelotti said, “In the last two years we’ve done well at set pieces. We have two very good crossers in Modrić and Arda and very good headers like Tchouameni, but we’re missing Rudiger, who has scored a lot of goals from set pieces.”
The Real Madrid boss continued, “There are many important aspects: how to hurt them in their high line in transitions and being aware of offside. We’ve worked on it and talked about it with the players. If they listen to me, it will work out well.”
Thibaut Courtois will retain his spot between the sticks, with the away side lining up in a 4-4-2 formation in front of him against Barcelona on Sunday. The backline should feature Federico Valverde, Raul Asencio, Aurelien Tchouameni, and Fran Garcia, with Valverde and Tchouameni starting as makeshift defenders.
As for the midfield unit, Luka Modric and Dani Ceballos will pair up in the central areas, with Arda Guler and Jude Bellingham taking up the wide spots. Finally, Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe should be the two strikers, with Rodrygo being a backup option on the bench.
Predicted Real Madrid XI: Courtois; Valverde, Asencio, Tchouameni, Fran Garcia; Guler, Ceballos, Modric, Bellingham; Vinicius, Mbappe
