Luka Modric is set to return while Eden Hazard will be in contention to feature when Real Madrid take on Elche on Wednesday.
Real Madrid will be hopeful of ending the year on a strong note when they lock horns with Elche at Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero on Wednesday night. And, Zinedine Zidane has greeted a mixed bag of updates on the team news front ahead of his side’s final fixture of 2020.
The only absentee for Real Madrid is Rodrygo Goes, who is unavailable due to the hamstring injury he sustained against Granada last time out. But, Luka Modric is a part of the travelling squad after missing the previous game.
In goal, there is no looking past Thibaut Courtois, who remains the undisputed first-choice ahead of Andriy Lunin. The four-man defensive unit in front of Courtois is likely to be unchanged as well, especially with the likes of Eder Militao, Nacho, Alvaro Odriozola and Marcelo being backup options for Zidane.
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With that in mind, captain Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane will pair up at the heart of the Real Madrid defence, with Ferland Mendy and Dani Carvajal being the two full-backs against Elche. Up ahead in midfield, Modric should return to the starting lineup after making himself available again.
The veteran Croat will be stationed in the three-man midfield unit as one of the creative outlets for Real Madrid alongside partner-in-crime Toni Kroos, while Casemiro will sit at the base, playing the Anchor Man role. That leaves the likes of Federico Valverde, Isco and Martin Odegaard as options on the bench.
As for attack, Eden Hazard will be in contention to feature after Zidane iterated during his pre-match press conference that the Belgian is available to take on Elche. The Real Madrid boss, though, made it clear that Hazard will not be making the starting lineup on Wednesday.
“Eden will be available tomorrow and we’d like him to just play a little bit. The other day we decided against it but we want him to play tomorrow because he’s been back with the team for a while and we want to take advantage of Eden’s football.”
Lucas Vazquez was quieter than usual last time out, but his place on the right flank seems to be quite secure for now. On the left-wing, Vinicius Jr. should come in for the injured Rodrygo Goes, meaning Marco Asensio misses out again. Finally, Karim Benzema will lead the line for Real Madrid against Elche.
Real Madrid Predicted XI: Courtois; Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Mendy; Modric, Casemiro, Kroos; Vazquez, Benzema, Vinicius Jr.
