Santiago Solari will oversee his first match as the permanent Real Madrid manager, with just three players unavailable to face SD Eibar on Saturday.
Santiago Solari has made a quick impression on the Real Madrid board, and four wins on the trot have seen him being named as the permanent manager. The Argentine will now aim to make it five in a row when Los Blancos visit the Basque country to take on SD Eibar at the Ipurua Municipal Stadium on Saturday.
After the first week of the international break, concerns had been mounting over a deepening injury crisis at the Bernabeu. But, the end of the last break of 2018 has seen Solari greeting more positive news than negative, with a number of first-team players set to return to action against Eibar.
? This is our squad for tomorrow's match against @SDEibarEN! #RMLiga pic.twitter.com/aRSiDjdkEy
— Real Madrid C.F. ???? (@realmadriden) November 23, 2018
Only three players are unavailable for Real Madrid, namely Nacho (knee), Sergio Reguilon (hamstring) and Casemiro (ankle). The big news is that Dani Carvajal, Raphael Varane and Marcelo are all available, while Sergio Ramos is also fit after pulling out of the Spain squad due to a groin problem.
As a result, his first-choice back four should start for the first time under Solari, with Thibaut Courtois expected to start between the sticks for Real Madrid. In midfield, Casemiro’s void should be filled by Dani Ceballos, although Toni Kroos is likely to start in a deeper role, with Luka Modric partnering him and Ceballos.
Modric’s form, in particular, has been worrisome, and the Real Madrid manager will hope the Croat can rediscover his best touch when his side pays Eibar a visit on Saturday. Another player who needs to improve is Gareth Bale, with the Welshman flattering to deceive of late.
Bale though, is likely to start, while Karim Benzema a certain starter as well, with the fit-again Mariano Diaz being his backup on the bench. The final spot in the side is likely to be a toss-up between Marco Asensio, Vinicius Jr. and Isco, with Solari addressing Asensio and Isco in his pre-match press conference.
“The only demonstrations from the players that interest me are the ones out on the field. Those are the important ones. We’re all pulling in the same direction, the fans, the president, the board, the coaching staff, the players, the medical team, the physiotherapists, all of us who love Real Madrid are pulling in the same direction, everyone playing their part.”
With Isco still working his way back to peak sharpness and Vinicius being primarily used as an impact substitute thus far, Asensio looks likely to make it to the starting lineup.