Real Madrid potential starting line-up against Sevilla | LaLiga Santander
Carlo Ancelotti cannot call upon the likes of Benzema, Vinicius, Asensio, Mariano and Carvajal, so who will take their place in the penultimate game?
Real Madrid is gearing up for yet another demanding encounter in LaLiga Santander. This time, on the penultimate matchday, Los Blancos will make the trip to Andalusia to take on Sevilla, with the scheduling of this match having been adjusted due to Sevilla’s upcoming Europa League final against Roma, set to take place at the Puskás Arena in Budapest, Hungary, on Wednesday evening.
Madrid struggles away from home
The capital club come into this game on the back of a frustrating goal drought on the road, having failed to find the back of the net in three of their last four away matches, and losing all four. Three of these encounters occurred in the league -- against Girona, Real Sociedad, and Valencia -- while the other was in the Champions League against Manchester City. The only goals in those games came courtesy of Vinicius and Lucas Vázquez, in the 4-2 loss at Girona.
In contrast, the Sevilla team, struggling all season, has been enjoying a slight uptick in form following the arrival of José Luis Mendilibar as their coach.
Madrid’s missing stars
Carlo Ancelotti is grappling with the absence of five key players for this game. Benzema, Vinicius, Mariano, and Asensio have all been forced to stay in the Spanish capital due to various injuries and knocks, while Carvajal is unavailable due to accumulated yellow cards.
Benzema, who suffered a blow against Rayo Vallecano and needed five stitches, will not travel with the team. Vinicius, on the other hand, is experiencing slight discomfort that had already sidelined him in the previous match against Rayo. Additionally, Asensio is dealing with muscular pain, and the coaching staff decided not to take any risks with his fitness.
To compensate for these absences, Ancelotti has called up Fran, the reserve goalkeeper, and Álvaro Rodríguez, who is making a return to the first-team squad. Álvaro Rodríguez, the tall Spanish-Uruguayan striker who played a vital role in securing a point in the derby against Atlético Madrid, will be counted upon as one of the team’s offensive assets at the Sánchez Pizjuán.
Real Madrid possible starting XI for Sevilla
In light of the aforementioned absences, Ancelotti faces the task of fielding a competitive team for Real Madrid’s final trip of the season, with second place still being fought for with city rivals Atlético. The potential starting eleven for this crucial fixture will likely see Courtois in goal, with Lucas Vázquez and Mendy occupying the full-back positions. Militao, who was rested in the match against Rayo on Wednesday, is expected to return alongside Rüdiger in central defense.
In midfield, the trio of Ceballos, Tchouameni, and Camavinga is likely to take the field, providing stability and creativity in the middle of the park. Valverde and Rodrygo are anticipated to feature in the attacking line.
One interesting question remains up top and that is regarding the potential inclusion of Eden Hazard in the starting lineup. If Ancelotti opts to field Hazard, he would probably begin on the left. With an eye on next season, deploying Álvaro Rodríguez as the main striker could be a more sensible approach.
Real Madrid predicted XI: Courtois, Lucas Vázquez, Mendy, Militao, Rüdiger, Ceballos, Tchouameni, Camavinga, Valverde, Rodrygo, Rodríguez.