Carlo Ancelotti will make minimal changes when Real Madrid and Rayo Vallecano lock horns at Estadio de Vallecas.
Real Madrid will aim to continue moving towards the league title when they lock horns with Rayo Vallecano at Estadio de Vallecas on Sunday afternoon. And Carlo Ancelotti does not have any new issues hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Thibaut Courtois, Antonio Rudiger, Eder Militao, David Alaba, and Jude Bellingham remain on the sidelines and are not in the travelling squad. Otherwise, Ancelotti has a strong squad at his disposal this weekend.
The Real Madrid manager did not discuss any team news updates during his pre-match press conference. But he spoke about Arda Guler’s progress while touching upon the subject of playing Aurelien Tchouameni as a centre-back.
On Guler, Ancelotti said, “He’s fine. He can play from the start because his fitness level is good enough to contribute. Now he has to fight with the competition he has. We have to be patient with him.”
On Tchouameni, he said, “When the centre-backs are back, Rüdiger will be soon, Militão is a bit further away and Alaba even more, Tchouameni won’t be used as a centre-back. He’ll be a pivot, which is what we signed him for. Of course, he’s showing that he can contribute as a central defender and he’s getting used to a new role. This shows how intelligent he is.”
Tchouameni will continue as a centre-back, pairing up with Nacho at the heart of the Real Madrid defence. Fran Garcia should be the only change in the starting lineup, replacing Ferland Mendy as the left-back. Dani Carvajal will complete the numbers at the back, with Andriy Lunin continuing between the sticks.
As for the midfield unit, Luka Modric will hope for a rare start. But that will continue eluding him, with Toni Kroos, Federico Valverde, and Eduardo Camavinga retaining their spots in the middle of the park. Brahim Diaz will deputise for Bellingham as the no. 10, with Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo completing the numbers in the final third.
Predicted Real Madrid XI: Lunin; Carvajal, Tchouameni, Nacho, Fran Garcia; Valverde, Kroos, Camavinga; Diaz; Rodrygo, Vinicius Jr.
