Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti is set to make changes to his lineup for Wednesday’s La Liga meeting with Mallorca at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Los Blancos know they will have to win to keep their title hopes alive for at least another 24 hours after falling seven points behind Barcelona with a 4-3 defeat in El Clasico on Sunday.
The midweek fixture will be Ancelotti’s penultimate home game as Real Madrid boss after Brazil confirmed that he will become their new national team head coach.
Ancelotti is contending with a growing injury in the final two weeks of his tenure, which includes Dani Carvajal, Antonio Rudiger, Eder Militao, David Alaba, Ferland Mendy and Eduardo Camavinga.
Lucas Vazquez and Vinicius Junior have been added to that injury list after Real Madrid confirmed on Monday that they have sustained thigh and ankle injuries, respectively.
Ancelotti will ultimately be forced to make at least three changes due to the injuries to Vazquez and Vinicius, plus the suspension of Aurelien Tchouameni for an accumulation of yellow cards.
Federico Valverde is set to drop from midfield to operate as the right-back in Vazquez’s absence, while Fran Garcia will continue to marshal the right side of the back four.
With Tchouameni suspended, 20-year-old Jacobo Ramon could come into the side to make his first La Liga start alongside Raul Asencio in central defence.
Luka Modric is poised to fill the space in midfield vacated by Valverde, and should be joined in the engine room by Dani Ceballos.
Arda Guler will be hoping to keep his place on the side, although there is the option for Ancelotti to turn to Brahim Diaz or Rodrygo, although the latter has been struggling with illness in the last week or so.
Jude Bellingham should operate in the number 10 role, while Kylian Mbappe could move from a number nine role to the left flank in Vinicius’s absence.
If Mbappe switches to the left wing, a space will open up for Endrick to lead the line against Mallorca at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Real Madrid possible starting lineup:
Courtois; Valverde, Asencio, Ramon, Garcia; Modric, Ceballos; Guler, Bellingham, Mbappe; Endrick
No Data Analysis info
