Zidane has repeated the same eleven just once this season
The French manager has been forced to change his side many times due to injuries, naming 26 different teams in 27 official games and 13 different defensive set-ups in that time. Juventus-Real Madrid live
Real Madrid's title credentials continue to become apparent despite the obstacles they continue to face. Zidane has not backed down once when faced with a tough decision on team selection and continues to rotate his squad with extra allowances needed in a year they competed in the Club World Cup in Japan. The 44-year-old has been forced to use 26 different line-ups this season in 27 official games.
Just once has he named the same side. That was in consecutive games in LaLiga against Real Betis at the Villamarín and against Athletic Club at the Santiago Bernebeu. The eleven he selected in those instances was: Keylor Navas; Carvajal, Varane, Pepe, Marcelo; Kovacic, Kroos, Isco; Bale, Benzema and Cristiano.
That eleven is far from what Zidane seems to think is his best eleven given the fact that Ramos is missing, as is Casemiro and Luka Modric. Varane is also another favourite of Zidane and he would likely partner Ramos in the centre of defense in an ideal XI too.
13 combination in defense
Injuries, mostly, have proven Zidane's biggest obstacle in naming his ideal eleven more often. Yesterday, six of that ideal eleven were playing on Wednesdya night against Sevilla with Ramos and Bale out injured and Benzema and Ronaldo left out due to technical decisions. Kiko Casilla played in goals in place of Navas as he has been given the opportunity to play in Cup matches this season.
Aside from the players left on the sideline due to technical decisions, Zidane has been given the most headaches in his back line. He has been forced to use the versatility of Nacho on more than one occasion to plug a hole at the back. The defender has also featured at left back and centre-back alongside Pepe and Varane. zidane ha sused 13 variations of a back four this season.