Eduardo Camavinga and Fran Garcia will be the only players to retain their spots in the Real Madrid starting lineup against RCD Mallorca on Thursday.
Real Madrid will aim to reach the Spanish Super Cup final when they lock horns with RCD Mallorca at King Abdullah Sports City on Thursday evening. 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 available after more than a year out with a knee injury. The veteran Austrian defender is in the travelling squad for the Spanish Super Cup. However, Ancelotti will unlikely risk Alaba apart from a few cameo appearances. Meanwhile, Vinicius Junior is available despite seeing red last week against Valencia.
However, Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao remain on the sidelines due to long-term knee injuries. Meanwhile, during his pre-match press conference, Ancelotti provided an update on Alaba while discussing Vinicius Junior’s suspension.
The Real Madrid manager said, “He’s doing well and we’re about to see him back. We don’t want to bring it forward by another week or 10 days.”
“I hear the insults on the pitches as he does. It’s hard to be Vini Jr. and I still think the two-match ban isn’t right. We’re delighted with him in all respects. I still think so. Everyone can say what they want. I just get tired because when we talk about provocation on Vini Jr.’s part, it deflects from the insults and everything else that happens to him.”
With Vinicius Junior available to take on RCD Mallorca, the Brazilian international will return to the Real Madrid starting lineup, joining Kylian Mbappe and Rodrygo in the final third. As for the midfield unit, Eduardo Camavinga and Federico Valverde will pair up in the double pivot, with Jude Bellingham reprising the no. 10 role.
The backline should see only one player retaining his spot, with Fran Garcia accompanying Antonio Rudiger, Aurelien Tchouameni, and Lucas Vazquez in the defensive quartet. Finally, there is no looking past Thibaut Courtois between the sticks, with Andriy Lunin dropping to the bench.
Predicted Real Madrid XI: Courtois; Vazquez, Tchouameni, Rudiger, Fran Garcia; Camavinga, Valverde; Rodrygo, Bellingham, Vinicius; Mbappe
