How Real Madrid could line up against Rayo Vallecano, Benzema out...

Carlo Ancelotti will be without regular starters Karim Benzema and Toni Kroos for his side’s trip to Vallecas on Monday. Benzema has missed 40% of the games this season and was absent from training on Sunday. Rodrygo will replace the Frenchman in attack. “In the future, I see him more as more of a striker than as a winger,” Ancelotti said of Rodrygo. “It’s just that the wing is not his best position; he’s very good in tight spaces.”

In midfield, the in-form Fede Valverde will move into the centre, leaving the right wing for Marco Asensio. Asensio impressed against Celtic in the Champions League and Valverde has no problem publicly admitting that he feels more comfortable as a midfielder than as a winger. The central position allows him to run from deep, making late runs into the box.

Antonio Rüdiger has been left out of the squad, suffering from a hip problem. Ancelotti has also admitted that the former Chelsea defender is unlikely to feature in LaLiga on Thursday, when Madrid welcome Cádiz to the capital.

Possible Real Madrid starting XI vs Rayo Vallecano

Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Alaba, Mendy; Tchouaméni, Modric, Valverde; Asensio, Rodrygo, Vinícius.

Barcelona go top

Barcelona’s 2-0 win over Almería on Saturday has added pressure to this fixture, but an away win would send Los Blancos back to the top of the table.