Lucas Vázquez stands as the preferred choice. Carlo Ancelotti chose not to disturb Castilla, which is facing some challenges both on and off the field, when finalizing the lineup for the match against Celta in Balaídos (Saturday, 9pm DAZN).
The Italian coach is relying heavily on the Galician full-back… and Militao, who is the best fit in that role alongside Vázquez.
In a press conference, Carlo shared, “We’ve lost him as a player, but not as a leader since he’ll still be working with us. We plan to make the most of his experience and physical presence.” The absence of Real Madrid’s second captain is tough to fill, leading the club to explore potential replacements in the market. For now, turning to the youth team seemed like a logical choice. However, that’s not the plan for the upcoming game against Vigo.
Carlo mentioned, “We evaluate our youth players daily to see what they can bring to the table. Unfortunately, some of them are injured.” Loren won’t be available, and Fortea is also still recovering. The same goes for Jacobo, leaving Raúl with just David Jiménez for the right-back spot.
Courtois Makes a Comeback Good news for Real Madrid fans! The Belgian goalkeeper is back in action after recovering from a muscle injury he suffered in the derby against Atlético de Madrid at the Metropolitano stadium. Carvajal, David Alaba, and Brahim are still absent, though Brahim is nearing a return to training. These are the only players missing as Ancelotti prepares the team for competition after the international break.
- Goalkeepers: Courtois, Lunin, and Sergio Mestre.
- Defenders: Militão, Lucas V., Vallejo, Fran García, Rüdiger, and Mendy.
- Midfielders: Bellingham, Camavinga, Valverde, Modric, Tchouameni, Arda Güler, and Ceballos.
- Forwards: Vini Jr., Mbappé, Rodrygo, and Endrick.