Ancelotti to make tough decision on this key Real Madrid star
Ancelotti plans to repeat a formation with four midfielders and two forwards, taking advantage of Mbappé’s absence.
Real Madrid will be playing to stay in the La Liga title race this Wednesday at the Coliseum against José Bordalás’ Getafe. But they’ll be doing so under less-than-ideal conditions: on Saturday, they face Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final—a match that could define a season that’s gone increasingly off-track since their Champions League exit.
As a result, Ancelotti is expected to make changes to his starting eleven and, more importantly, to the formation, shifting away from his usual setup with Saturday’s final in Sevilla in mind.
In addition to the long-term absences of Militão and Carvajal, both Mbappé and Mendy will also be unavailable. Mendy still hasn’t rejoined full training, so his presence in Getafe was never likely. Mbappé, on the other hand, did train with the squad on Tuesday and could feature if needed—but Ancelotti prefers to rest him to ensure he’s fresh for the Copa del Rey final.
Because of these absences, the coach is expected to stick with the 4-4-2 formation he used against Athletic Bilbao—a setup that struggled in the first half but ultimately proved effective in the second, delivering a dominant win.
There are no doubts in goal: Courtois will start. He’s been the undisputed number one in LaLiga and is likely to keep the spot for the Cup final too. Ancelotti hasn’t confirmed it, but with so much on the line, he’s unlikely to take risks.
In defense, all signs point to Lucas Vázquez starting at right back, with Asencio and Tchouaméni partnering in central defence. Rüdiger has been dealing with a knee issue, so giving him a rest now could help preserve him for the season run-in. The biggest question is at left back: Fran García or Alaba. Whoever sits out midweek could be in line to start against Barcelona, although Camavinga is also in contention for that spot.
Midfield will feature a line of four. The return of Ceballos gives Ancelotti a player who can add rhythm and control in the middle, and the coach is eager to give him minutes to help him regain form. He’s set to start against Getafe and could play an important role in El Clásico. Camavinga will likely join him in a double pivot, with Valverde on the right and Bellingham on the left. That’s their setup defensively—going forward, Bellingham is expected to push higher, playing in attacking midfield roles or even as a false nine, a role in which he excelled last season.
Up front, there are no surprises: Rodrygo and Vinicius will lead the line. With Mbappé sidelined, they’re Ancelotti’s best bet for securing points at the Coliseum. But looking ahead—once Mbappé is back—will Rodrygo lose his starting spot to maintain this new formation? With just one goal in his last 20 appearances, he’s currently the weakest link in the attack. A strong performance against Getafe could go a long way in convincing Ancelotti to reconsider.
Real Madrid possible XI:
GK: Courtois
DEF: Lucas Vázquez - Asencio - Tchouaméni - Fran García / Alaba
MID: Valverde - Ceballos - Camavinga - Bellingham
ATT: Rodrygo - Vinicius Jr.
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