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Real Madrid’s possible line-up vs Villarreal today: will Mbappé, Rodrygo start?

On matchday nine of the 2024/25 LaLiga season, Real Madrid host Villarreal at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu.

Update: Oct 5th, 2024 02:28 EDT

Sergio PérezEFE

Kylian Mbappé is poised to return to the Real Madrid line-up against Villarreal this weekend, having staged a rapid recovery from injury.

Mbappé was initially expected to miss three weeks with a hamstring issue, but returned to action within six days in midweek, playing as a substitute in Madrid’s surprise Champions League defeat to Lille.

Fellow forward Rodrygo Goes sat out Wednesday’s game in France with a back problem, but has also returned to fitness and is in line to come back into Los Blancos’ line-up at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu.

Will Militão play despite recent injury concerns?

Carlo Ancelotti’s chief selection doubt is at centre-back, where Éder Militão could drop out of the team. Although tests have not shown any damage, Militão has been troubled by his left thigh in Madrid’s last two games, against Lille and city rivals Atlético Madrid.

Ancelotti must decide whether to keep Militão in his line-up, or draft in midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni as a makeshift central-defensive partner for Antonio Rüdiger. If Tchouaméni drops back into the defence, Eduardo Camavinga will play at the base of the midfield. If Militão starts, it’s between Tchouaméni and Camavinga for the anchorman role.

Andriy Lunin will continue in goal, given that No. 1 keeper Thibaut Courtois remains out with a groin injury. The Belgian is expected back after the October international break.

Elsewhere, Ancelotti is expected to go with his first-choice options. In view of the strength of the opposition - Villarreal are third in LaLiga, and are unbeaten on the road this season - the Madrid head coach has no plans to rotate.