Arda Guler might make his Real Madrid debut when they welcome Rayo Vallecano to the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday evening.
Real Madrid will look to remain perched atop La Liga when they host Rayo Vallecano at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday evening. And Carlo Ancelotti has greeted a mixed bag of updates on the team news front ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Arda Guler features in a matchday squad for the first time this season. But Aurelien Tchouameni is unavailable after picking up a foot injury against Barcelona last weekend. The French international has joined Thibaut Courtois and Eder Militao in the treatment room.
In addition, Ferland Mendy and Dani Ceballos have failed to prove their fitness and remain on the sidelines. Meanwhile, Ancelotti spoke about Guler’s return during his pre-match press conference while discussing the possibility of Eduardo Camavinga filling Tchouameni’s void.
He said, “Arda Güler is back training with the team. He’s recovered but he needs game time now. He’ll be in the squad tomorrow and he’ll start getting minutes. We’ll put him on a special plan to improve his fitness but the most important thing is that he’s working with us now and he’ll be able to show his quality soon.”
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On Camavinga playing as a defensive midfielder, he said, “Camavinga is an option. We can play with a double pivot on occasions too, but Camavinga is the most similar player we have in relation to Tchouameni’s attributes.”
Meanwhile, Ancelotti also provided a fitness update on other players. He said, “Ceballos will be back in training next week. Mendy picked up a strain in the last game and he’ll be back in time for the Braga match. He’s our first-choice left-back, then there’s Fran García and Camavinga can play in there on occasions too.”
With Mendy unavailable, Fran Garcia should start as the left-back. The Spaniard will join Dani Carvajal, Antonio Rudiger, and David Alaba in the backline. The quartet will protect Kepa Arrizabalaga in the goal.
As for the midfield unit, Camavinga will fill Tchouameni’s void, starting at the base of the diamond. Meanwhile, Luka Modric should return to the starting lineup after a stellar performance off the bench against Barcelona. The veteran Croat will line up alongside Federico Valverde in the middle of the park.
Jude Bellingham will complete the numbers in the midfield unit, starting at the tip of the diamond. Finally, Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo Goes should be the two strikers, with Bellingham reprising the “False Nine” role. So, Joselu will find himself on the bench again for Real Madrid this weekend.
Predicted Real Madrid XI: Kepa; Carvajal, Rudiger, Alaba, Garcia; Valverde, Camavinga, Modric; Bellingham; Rodrygo, Vinicius
