REAL MADRID
Possible Real Madrid starting XI against Rayo Vallecano in LaLiga EA Sports
Ancelotti has some decisions to make regarding his team selection in this capital city derby at the Santiago Bernabéu. KO at 3 p.m. ET / 12 noon PT.
Almost an entire month after their last appearance at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium (4-0 win over Osasuna), Real Madrid welcome Rayo Vallecano in a capital city derby (kick off at 3 p.m. ET / 12 noon PT).
Ancelotti’s men arrive in high spirits after beating Barcelona in the first Clásico at Montjuïc, and aspire to add three points to their total that will keep them at the top of the league table as they start a three-game week. As the Italian coach said, “it is a moment to hit the table hard with these three games, in LaLiga and in the Champions League.” To do so, to hit the table hard, Ancelotti will opt to rotate.
Real Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano: Follow the live action here!
Which Real Madrid players are injured?
To begin with, Courtois and Militão are out with long-term issues, while Ceballos, Mendy and Tchouaméni are unavailable for this week: another international break is set to come along, one that will give them time to recover for the other side of the FIFA date.
The losses of the two Frenchmen will be supplemented by Fran García, who faces his former team, on the left side, while Camavinga will abandon that position to take up the role of pivot in the middle of the field.
Real Madrid:
Who will play for Real Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano?
Camavinga will be accompanied by Modric, who shone in his 35 minutes on the field against Barcelona, and Valverde, the man in charge of breaking down opponent defences. But at the back, before we move on, Ancelotti has one more doubt: whether to go with Nacho or Alaba. The Spaniard has impressed (except for the red against Girona) and this is Ancelotti’s main headache for the game.
At the top, the coach will once again put out his preferred attacking trident: the recently revitalised Vinicius and Rodrygo along with the revelation of the season, Englishman Jude Bellingham, who has 13 goals in 13 games, 10 of them in the league.
The bench will be made up of Joselu, Kroos, Brahim and the promising Nico Paz, who has impressed everyone at the club, both in pre-season and in the training sessions he has done with the first team.
And then we get to the news everyone has been waiting for: Arda Güler finally makes the Real Madrid squad.
Will Arda Güler play for Real Madrid?
The Turk, who has impressed hugely in training, signed for €20 million ($21 million) plus €8 million ($8.5 million) in bonuses, but has not yet been able to make his debut due to injuries that have left him in the physio room since preseason in the United States. Despite the worry, the player has not been forced back by Ancelotti and his staff, who are keen to recover the player to full fitness and not rush his return.
The technical and medical staff preferred to have Güler at 100% fitness before dropping him into action with the first team. If everything goes right on the day for Real Madrid, it is very possible that the highly anticipated debut of the Turkish delight could finally come to pass.