Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti is unlikely to risk the fitness of his number one goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois during Saturday’s La Liga contest with Valencia at Mestalla.
Courtois’ muscular issue that he suffered on international duty with Belgium is proving to be more problematic than initially feared.
As a result, Ancelotti is said to be keen to give the veteran more time to recover for next week’s Champions League quarter-final first leg with Arsenal.
Andriy Lunin, who has started the team’s last two matches, is therefore expected to continue between the sticks for Real Madrid despite the fact that he is nursing a slight calf issue.
Dani Ceballos and Ferland Mendy should both be available against Arsenal but will miss out on Saturday, while Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao remain in the treatment room due to long-term injuries.
There will be changes from the side that started against Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey on Tuesday night, with Kylian Mbappe an absolute certainty to be brought back into the XI through the middle.
Antonio Rudiger and Fran Garcia should also be introduced at the back, with David Alaba and Eduardo Camavinga likely to be the two players to drop out from that area of the field, while Endrick is set to be among the substitutes for the first whistle on Saturday afternoon.
Real Madrid possible starting lineup: Lunin; Vazquez, Asencio, Rudiger, F Garcia; Valverde, Tchouameni; Rodrygo, Bellingham, Vinicius; Mbappe
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