Luka Modric will start, while Rodrygo Goes returns to the Real Madrid squad for the Copa del Rey game against Barcelona.
Real Madrid will look to take a step closer to the Copa del Rey final when they welcome Barcelona to the Santiago Bernabeu in the semi-final first leg on Thursday night. And Carlo Ancelotti has greeted a positive update on the team news front ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Rodrygo Goes has recovered from a leg injury he sustained against Liverpool. And the Brazilian international is in the Real Madrid squad for the game against Barcelona. That leaves David Alaba and Ferland Mendy as the only absentees for the hosts.
During his pre-match press conference, Ancelotti spoke about the fitness of several players. Rodrygo was one of the topics of discussion, with the Italian tactician also answering questions regarding Eden Hazard and Aurelien Tchouameni.
Ancelotti said, “Hazard is good and he’s training. He wants to be given minutes and he could get them in the next few games. Rodrygo looks good and we will make decisions before announcing the squad.”
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On Tchouameni, the Italian manager said, “The main thing is that Tchouameni is doing well and has returned to full fitness. He’s ready to play in the starting line-up without any problem. Camavinga is also doing very well. Having two players of this standard back is very good for us.”
Tchouameni should start against Barcelona, with Luka Modric also returning to the eleven. Modric and Tchouameni will join Toni Kroos in the middle of the park. So Eduardo Camavinga and Dani Ceballos will be options on the bench.
As for the offensive unit, Rodrygo will unlikely start. That is because Federico Valverde will take up the right-wing berth, with Vinicius Junior featuring on the left flank. So Rodrygo will likely appear off the bench on Thursday. Meanwhile, captain Karim Benzema picks himself as the central striker.
Meanwhile, the defensive unit should not see any changes in Mendy and Alaba’s absence. So Dani Carvajal and Nacho will continue as the full-backs. And Eder Militao and Antonio Rudiger will be the two centre-backs. Finally, Thibaut Courtois picks himself between the sticks.
Predicted Real Madrid XI: Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Rudiger, Nacho; Modric, Tchouameni, Kroos; Valverde, Benzema, Vinicius Jr.
