Thibaut Courtois and Karim Benzema will be unavailable when Real Madrid take on Getafe in La Liga on Saturday.
Real Madrid have an excellent head-to-head record against Saturday’s opposition. And they will be the firm favourites heading into the contest against Getafe on Saturday. Despite the fact that Real Madrid will be without a couple of key players in this game, Carlo Ancelotti’s men have enough quality in their side to grind out all three points.
Real Madrid will be without the services of regular goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and midfielder Dani Ceballos. Meanwhile, star striker Karim Benzema has been given a breather as well and the Frenchman will not travel with the squad to Getafe.
Ancelotti said in his pre-match press conference, “He’s been out with an injury that has stopped him a little bit, he s still the same Karim he’s always been. We’re not worried about him. He might be rested tomorrow so he can have a breather. But he’s still doing what he’s always done and he’ll continue to do so.”
Andriy Lunin is set to remain in the starting lineup in the absence of the Belgian goalkeeper, who is suffering from a back injury. Meanwhile, Ceballos is out for two to three weeks, but his absence is not going to affect the usual midfield three. Aurelien Tchouameni will start alongside Toni Kroos and Luka Modric.
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On the injury front, Ancelotti added, “At the moment we’ve got Ceballos out injured, he’ll be out for two or three weeks; Courtois has got some inflammation. His inflammation is getting better. We need to consider whether he’ll travel to Warsaw. Taking the plane could create problems for him, but he’ll be ready for the Clásico, that’s for sure.”
With most of his defenders fit and available for the game, Ancelotti is unlikely to make too many changes to his back four. The usual full-backs Dani Carvajal and Ferland Mendy are set to start as the right-back and left-back against Getafe.
Meanwhile, the Real Madrid manager was full of praise for Antonio Rudiger ahead of the game and the German is expected to start alongside David Alaba at the heart of the defence. Ancelotti said, “Rüdiger knows he’s a very important player for us. He’s a world-class central defender, just like Militão, Alaba and Nacho, who is playing less than the others.”
“Nacho has always performed when he’s played. Given that they’re world class, we’re very strong with these four centre backs. Militão will be rested sometimes, sometimes Alaba and sometimes Rüdiger. Nacho has been rested more than the others, but he might play more in the future,” Ancelotti added.
In the absence of Benzema, Brazilian forward Rodrygo Goes is expected to lead the line for Real Madrid against Getafe. Vinicius Junior and Federico Valverde will be deployed as the wide attackers. Eden Hazard and Marco Asensio will be backup options on the bench this weekend.
Predicted Real Madrid XI: Lunin; Carvajal, Rudiger, Alaba, Mendy; Kroos, Tchouameni, Modric; Valverde, Rodrygo, Vinicius