Marco Asensio could make a rare start for Real Madrid when the Merengues take on Elche at Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero on Wednesday.
Real Madrid will look to remain perched atop La Liga when they lock horns with Elche at Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero on Wednesday night. And Carlo Ancelotti will have a near full-strength squad at his disposal heading into his side’s latest fixture.
Thibaut Courtois remains the major absentee for Real Madrid. And the Belgian goalkeeper is yet to recover from a back injury. Otherwise, Ancelotti has a fully fit squad to choose from against Elche this midweek.
Ancelotti did not speak about team news updates during his pre-match press conference. But the Real Madrid manager made sure to heap praise on Karim Benzema for winning the Ballon d’Or for the first time.
“We’re very happy and feel as if the Ballon d’Or belongs to us in some sense. Benzema is really proud at having won this award and thanked his teammates. It’s an individual award, but he’s benefited from the help of a team that enabled him to go and showcase his quality. This one is now behind us and we have to look forward to the next Ballon d’Or.”
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“He’s a player who takes on more responsibility and feels more like a leader within this team than he did eight years ago. His game hasn’t changed all that much in a technical sense and he has the same quality. What has changed is his responsibility within the team and his attitude, where he is much more of a leader.”
Benzema will celebrate winning the Ballon d’Or by leading the line for Real Madrid against Elche. But he will have a different support cast on the flanks. That is because Ancelotti might feel that the game against rock-bottom Elche is the right time to rest Federico Valverde and Vinicius Junior. Rodrygo Goes and Marco Asensio should be the replacements on the wings.
Luka Modric might have also earned himself some rest, and Eduardo Camavinga should replace him in the middle of the park. The Frenchman will form the midfield trifecta with Toni Kroos and Aurelien Tchouameni. Meanwhile, the defensive unit should also see a few changes.
Antonio Rudiger should come in for David Alaba, forming the central defensive pairing with Eder Militao. Lucas Vazquez will likely replace Dani Carvajal, but Ferland Mendy should continue as the left-back. Finally, Andriy Lunin will continue to deputise for the injured Courtois between the sticks.
Predicted Real Madrid XI: Lunin; Vazquez, Militao, Rudiger, Mendy; Kroos, Tchouameni, Camavinga; Rodrygo, Benzema, Asensio
