Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is set to return to the starting lineup for their home game against Sevilla this weekend in La Liga.
Real Madrid will be aiming to return to winning ways, when they go head to head against third-placed Sevilla in La Liga at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday.
After being beaten 1-0 by Leganes in the Copa del Rey earlier this week, Santiago Solari’s men will be gunning to bounce back strongly and move into the third spot in the La Liga standings with a victory against Pablo Machin’s side this weekend.
Belgian international Thibaut Courtois, who missed the last three games with an injury, has been included in the 19-man matchday squad by the manager and should start against the Andalusians, despite having returned to training only on Friday after it emerged that backup goalkeeper Keylor Navas had picked up a groin injury.
? Our 19-man squad for tomorrow's match against @SevillaFC_ENG! #RMLiga pic.twitter.com/mqFwMVm23v
— Real Madrid C.F. ???? (@realmadriden) January 18, 2019
“Following the tests carried out on our player Keylor Navas by the Real Madrid medical department, he has been diagnosed with an injury to his right adductor longus muscle. His recovery will continue to be assessed,” a medical report issued by the club read.
Dani Carvajal should replace Alvaro Odriozola at right-back after sitting out of the cup tie, while academy graduate Sergio Reguilon is expected to feature at left-back ahead of Marcelo once again. Sergio Ramos should return to the starting lineup in defence to partner Raphael Varane, with Nacho making way for the Real Madrid captain.
Luka Modric, who did not start in the midweek encounter, should return to the fold on Saturday, while Dani Ceballos is also set to start, with Isco and Federico Valverde dropping out. Brazilian enforcer Casemiro should hold on to his spot at the base of the midfield for the home team. Marcos Llorente and Toni Kroos remain sidelined with injuries.
Upfront, Real Madrid will have to do make without star attackers Gareth Bale and Marco Asensio, while summer signing Mariano Diaz also remains absent.
However, they have been boosted by the return of Lucas Vazquez, who is back in contention after serving out his one-match ban. The Spaniard should start out on the right flank for Los Blancos against Sevilla, while the left wing should once again be occupied by Vinicius Junior, who has been the sole bright spot in recent weeks for Real.
Karim Benzema is recovering from a fractured finger, but is expected to feature from the kick off against the Andalusian outfit on Saturday. Speaking of the striker in his pre-match presser, manager Solari iterated the same.
“He has a finger injury, but we don’t think that it’s a problem that will affect his career as a player, neither tomorrow nor on Wednesday. He’s looked good in training and he’s in a good mood.”
Benzema should feature as the sole striker, and the Frenchman will need to improve after tailing off somewhat in recent games.
