Madrid's Ancelotti Alters Five Spots in Lineup for Clash against Valladolid
Madrid's Ancelotti Alters Five Spots in Lineup for Clash against Valladolid
In a shift from their Champions League triumph over RB Salzburg, Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti promises to deploy a revamped squad for their La Liga clash with Real Valladolid on Saturday. Speaking at a pre-match press conference, the Italian tactician stressed the importance of this fixture in upholding their league lead.
Although Ancelotti reaffirmed his commitment to field his best XI, he revealed plans to introduce five new faces to the starting lineup. Amidst these alterations, Thibaut Courtois remains the pick between the sticks. The backline receives a shakeup with Raul Asencio stepping in at right-back in place of Fede Valverde, while Fran Garcia takes over from Ferland Mendy on the left-hand side.
Aurelien Tchoumeni and Antonio Rudiger are tasked with anchoring the defense, with Luka Modric absent from the double pivot. In Modric's stead, Dani Ceballos and Valverde share the midfield responsibilities.
Vinicius Jr.'s absence provides an opportunity for Brahim Diaz to rejoin the starting lineup on the right flank. Kylian Mbappe assumes the lone striker role upfront, with Rodrygo occupying Vinicius Jr.'s usual left wing position.
Ancelotti sees the benefits in Vinicius' rest, citing that he will spend recovery days, work, and training to return in peak form for the important stages of the season.
The upcoming La Liga encounter poses a significant challenge to Real Madrid's continued dominance. By carefully balancing his lineup, Ancelotti aims to both preserve his side's league lead while ensuring their momentum persists after their Champions League success.
Jude Bellingham, who has been impressive in recent matches, might get a chance to showcase his skills in the midfield, as Carlo Ancelotti considers giving him a starting spot in place of the absent Luka Modric. Vinicius Jr.'s absence from the lineup opens up an opportunity for Rodrygo to shift to his usual left wing position, while Vinicius takes advantage of the break to focus on his recovery and preparation for the crucial stages of the season in the Champions League. Regardless of the changes, Real Madrid will continue their La Liga campaign against Real Valladolid with the aim of retaining their league lead while maintaining their momentum from the Champions League victory against RB Salzburg.