Ancelotti set to shuffle his pack as Real Madrid face Villarreal in La Liga

There is no respite in a packed 2024-25 fixture list as Real Madrid need to regroup after the drama and exertion from Wednesday nights Champions League win. Speaking pre-game, Madrid boss Ancelotti acknowledged the drain on his player’s energy levels: "Tomorrow we’ll have to make an extraordinary effort. We can’t have the energy and freshness we need because we haven’t had enough time to recover..." The Italian, once again criticised the demand on players this season: "I don’t understand it, the minimum is 72 hours; money, television rights... not the players' recovery are prioritized."

For Saturday’s trip to Vila-Real, the Italian will rest Vinicius Jr. as the winger failed to train on Friday with the Brazilian poised for the bench. Ancelotti stated: “We’ve given him (Vini) an extra day of rest because he was still very tired. Tomorrow he’ll be at full capacity and available to help us. He doesn’t have any problems, just a little tiredness."

The strikeforce for the game at the Estadio de la Ceramica will see Brahim joining Rodrygo alongside Bellingham and Mbappé, two players also at their physical limits.

With Valverde also expected to be rested after covering more than 13 kilometers distance on Wednesday, the central pairing will see Tchouameni start with Camavinga with Modric an option from the bench.

Possible Madrid XI

Courtois will start in goal with Ascencio and Alaba (who has been called up again for Austria) to marshall the centre of defence with Rudiger getting a breather. Lucas Vázquez and Fran García will cover the right and left back positions completing a starting line up that could see: Courtois; Lucas Vázquez, Asencio, Alaba, Fran García; Tchouameni, Camavinga; Brahim, Bellingham, Rodrygo and Mbappé start for ‘Los Blancos’.

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.