Real Madrid team news, possible starting XI against Real Mallorca
Real Madrid host Real Mallorca in LaLiga on Wednesday, in what is the first of a trio of games at the Bernabéu within the space of a week.
Real Madrid go into their clash with Real Mallorca on Wednesday night with six players out injured - Gareth Bale, Dani Carvajal, Dani Ceballos, Toni Kroos, Marcelo and Ferland Mendy - but welcome Mariano Díaz back to fitness.
Díaz back fit after sitting out Real Madrid's Valencia trip
Díaz missed Sunday’s away win over Valencia with a groin issue, but trained as normal on Monday and Tuesday and has returned to the Madrid squad for the LaLiga week-six match-up with Mallorca at the Bernabéu (10pm CEST; 4pm EDT).
The other major squad news is head coach Carlo Ancelotti’s decision to include 20-year-old full-back Sergio Santos, who also featured in four matchday groups under Zinedine Zidane last season, but is yet to make his first-team debut.
The visit of Mallorca is the first of three home games for Madrid in the space of a week, with Los Blancos to face Villarreal in LaLiga on Saturday and FC Sheriff Tiraspol in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Camavinga among players set to come into Real Madrid team
Ancelotti is expected to make a few changes to the team that began the victory over Valencia. The injury to Carvajal opens the way for Lucas Vázquez to come in at right-back, a position in which the winger excelled last term. At left-back, Nacho Fernández could be rested, making way for Miguel Gutiérrez, while David Alaba and Éder Militao are likely to continue at centre-back, in front of first-choice goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
In midfield, Casemiro is expected to be joined by Eduardo Camavinga, who has impressed in his three appearances for Madrid so far, all as a substitute. It is anticipated that Ancelotti will rest Luka Modric and Federico Valverde, who have been virtually ever-present.
In front of Casemiro and Camavinga, Marco Asensio is expected to be fielded in a position just behind striker Karim Benzema, with Vinícius Júnior remaining on the left and Rodrygo Goes coming in on the right wing after making an impact as a substitute against Valencia.
Real Madrid vs Real Mallorca: Los Blancos' potential XI
Possible Real Madrid line-up: Courtois; Vázquez, Militao, Alaba, Gutiérrez; Casemiro, Camavinga; Rodrygo, Asensio, Vinícius; Benzema.
Substitutes: Lunin, Toni Fuidias, Vallejo, Santos, Nacho, Modric, Valverde, Blanco, Isco, Hazard, Jovic and Díaz.