Aurelien Tchouameni, Brahim Diaz, and Luka Modric will return to the Real Madrid starting lineup against Leganes at Estadio Municipal Butarque on Wednesday.
Real Madrid will aim to reach the Copa del Rey semi-final when they lock horns with CD Leganes at Estadio Municipal Butarque for the quarter-final tie on Wednesday night. Carlo Ancelotti has new injury concerns hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Antonio Rudiger (hamstring) and David Alaba (muscle) are the latest absentees, with the defensive duo picking up their injuries this past weekend. The pair has joined Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao on the sidelines, with both defenders recovering from long-term knee injuries.
So, Ancelotti will not have any senior centre-backs in his squad in the foreseeable future. Meanwhile, during his pre-match press conference, the Italian tactician discussed the lack of activity in the winter transfer window despite the injury crisis. In addition, he spoke about his central defensive options.
The Real Madrid manager said, “Unfortunately, we have lost two important players in the last two days. It’s something we obviously didn’t foresee because Alaba was ready to start playing. He was going to play tomorrow because he was feeling good. Just as we didn’t foresee the injury to Rüdiger.”
“It’s an emergency moment that we have to put up with. There are minor problems that delay Alaba’s return to 15 or 20 days and Rüdiger’s as well. We we’ll hold out with the players we have. Jacobo, who has been injured for a long time, is coming back and he can also contribute.”
Discussing his central defensive options, the Real Madrid boss said, “Valverde is not going to play at centre-back. He might be a full-back in some of these games, but not a centre-back. Jacobo, Asencio and Tchouameni can play at centre-back.”
Aurelien Tchouameni and Raul Asencio should pair up at the heart of the defence, with Ferland Mendy and Lucas Vazquez starting as the two full-backs. Andriy Lunin will replace Thibaut Courtois between the sticks, with Real Madrid lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him against CD Leganes.
As for the midfield unit, Luka Modric should return to the double pivot, lining up alongside Federico Valverde in the double pivot. Jude Bellingham will reprise the no. 10 role, with Vinicius Junior and Brahim Diaz being the two wide attackers. Finally, Kyliaan Mbappe will lead the line for the away side against Leganes on Wednesday.
Predicted Real Madrid XI: Lunin; Vazquez, Tchouameni, Asencio, Mendy; Valverde, Modric; Brahim, Bellingham, Vinicius; Mbappe