Real Madrid face Valencia CF on matchday 30 of LaLiga at the Santiago Bernabéu, in a game where the Whites need to take all three points if they are to keep up with Barcelona in the title race.
The Whites return to domestic competition after a crazy Copa del Rey duel this week against Real Sociedad that ended 5-4 on aggregate for Real Madrid, who had to go to extra time to save the day in a bad game that was decided by Rüdiger in extremis.
In the league, the Whites are coming off the back of a win over Leganés with two goals from Kylian Mbappé, with a soft Panenka-style penalty and a great free kick, he drove forward, along with a goal from Jude Bellingham, a vital comeback (2-3) to stay in the fight for the title with Barça three points above them.
Ancelotti forced to rotate
Carlo Ancelotti’s side go into the match with the confirmed absences of Mendy, Ceballos, Militão and Carvajal. However, the number of minutes played in recent matches means that the Italian coach will have to rotate his squad. One of them is in goal. Thibaut Courtois has not yet recovered from his right knee problems and Andriy Lunin injured his right soleus during the match against Real Sociedad. For this reason, it is possible that Ancelotti will choose to field Fran González, the goalkeeper from Castilla.
Fran González makes his debut in goal
Real Madrid go into the game without goalkeepers Courtois and Lunin, so Fran González will make his debut in the Real Madrid goal. Lunin was called up at the last minute, but he had to have an injection to be able to play, while Courtois is just about fit and has a rest ahead of the Champions League.
On the other hand, Carlo Ancelotti has given Asencio and Rodrygo a rest for the league game, with Tuesday’s match against Arsenal in mind. Tchouaméni will partner Rüdiger in the center of defense, while Brahim will complete the attacking trident.
Real Madrid’s confirmed starting eleven
Goalkeeper: Fran González
Defenders: Lucas Vázquez, Tchouameni, Rudiger and Fran García
Midfielders: Modric, Valverde, Bellingham
Forwards: Brahim, Vinicius and Mbappé
Valencia’s starting eleven
Valencia, for their part, will be fielding the following eleven: Mamardashvili, Max Aarons, Mosquera, César Tárrega, Diakhaby, Jesús Vázquez, Almeida, Enzo Barrenechea, Javi Guerra, Diego López and Sadiq.