Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, and David Alaba will return when Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid meet in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals.
Real Madrid will hope to seal a safe passage to the Copa del Rey semi-finals when they welcome local rival Atletico Madrid to the Santiago Bernabeu on Thursday night. And Carlo Ancelotti has greeted a positive update on the team news front ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
David Alaba is fit and part of the squad to take on Atletico Madrid this midweek. But Dani Carvajal, Lucas Vazquez, Aurelien Tchouameni, and Eden Hazard remain on the sidelines. Otherwise, Ancelotti has a full-strength squad at his disposal for the Copa del Rey quarter-final.
During his pre-match press conference, Ancelotti provided an update on the injured quartet. And the Italian tactician also lent his support to Nacho, who has risen to the occasion nicely in the absence of Carvajal and Vazquez.
Ancelotti said, “Alaba is available, but Tchouameni hasn’t trained with the team yet and isn’t available, same as Hazard. Carvajal and Lucas Vázquez are also out. We’ve got four out and we’re gradually getting players back. The general shape of the team is getting better.”
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“I like him [Nacho] in every position and he always performs. He’s so intelligent that he’s a pessimist that can play in any position across the defence. He like to play more as a centre back and I’ll keep him in mind and tomorrow he’ll play full back (laughs). He’s always reliable and I always consider him before I select a lineup.”
Nacho should retain his spot as the right-back, considering Carvajal and Vazquez are still on the sidelines. David Alaba should return to the starting eleven, replacing Eder Militao. And the Austrian international will line up alongside Antonio Rudiger in the central defensive partnership. Ferland Mendy will complete the defensive unit, with Thibaut Courtois starting between the sticks.
As for the midfield unit, Eduardo Camavinga will again sit on the base in Tchouameni’s absence. And the young Frenchman should join Luka Modric and Toni Kroos in the middle of the park. So Dani Ceballos will likely drop to the bench on Thursday.
But Federico Valverde will continue in the starting lineup, taking his place on the right flank. And the Uruguayan international will join Karim Benzema and Vinicius Junior in the final third. So Rodrygo Goes and Marco Asensio will be backup offensive options for Ancelotti.
Predicted Real Madrid XI: Courtois; Nacho, Rudiger, Alaba, Mendy; Modric, Camavinga, Kroos; Valverde, Benzema, Vinicius Jr.
