Predicted Real Madrid Line-up To Face Atletico Madrid In La Liga
La Liga football returns with a mouth-watering fixture – the Madrid derby at the Wanda Metropolitano. The first Madrid derby of this season promises to be a cagey affair with Atletico entering unbeaten into the game. Real and Atletico are tied level on points in the Liga table, 8 adrift of leaders Barcelona.
Los Blancos have struggled in recent games and have had a stuttering start to their season. A misfiring Cristiano Ronaldo will be a cause of concern and the Portuguese superstar may choose the mega fixture to silence his critics.
Team News
Gareth Bale is out with injury. The Welsh winger suffered an abductor injury in training and will not be available for the derby. Dani Carvajal, recovering from a heart problem is in contention for a start and Keylor Navas is also nearing a return after a hamstring injury. Mateo Kovacic is a doubt after an abductor tear as well, but Isco may be fit for a starting XI role after suffering a knock during the international break.
Formation: 4-3-2-1
Manager: Zinedine Zidane
Kiko Casilla (GK)
It’s not yet sure whether Navas will receive the medical green light for the fixture, and Zidane may well start Casilla in goal.
Achraf Hakimi (RB)
The young right-back has had his moments, but Madrid fans will breathe a sigh of relief knowing Carvajal is nearing his return.
Raphael Varane (CB)
The young centre-back featured in a couple of matches for France in the international friendlies. Should start.
Sergio Ramos (CB)
According to various media sources, Ramos and Ronaldo have had a very public falling apart and it will be interesting to see how the duo gets on in the Madrid derby.
Marcelo (LB)
Marcelo scored a stunner in a 3-1 victory against Japan in the international break and will be raring to start against Atletico Madrid.
Casemiro (DM)
Casemiro will be pivotal in the game. He adds a lot to the defensive backbone and the attacking buildup along with Kroos and Modric.
Toni Kroos (CM)
Toni Kroos is one of the best in the world in his position and he needs to have a good game against Atletico to steer his team to a win.
Luka Modric (CM)
Luka Modric is in contention to start this high-profile fixture despite being described as ‘off-colour’ by Zinedine Zidane.
Isco Alarcon (CAM)
Isco trained hard and is in good physical shape to start the match after the knock he received during the international break.
Karim Benzema (CF)
Benzema reminisced a fabulous piece of skill where he dazzled past three defenders and managed a cut back to Isco who scored the vital away goal against Atleti in last season’s Champions League semi-final in a recent interview. Madrid fans will expect him to pull off something similar.
Cristiano Ronaldo (ST)
Ronaldo hasn’t had the best start to his season but his girlfriend, Georgina Rodriguez recently gave birth to a baby daughter. Maybe that ecstasy will cheer him on to climb back to the best of his form and silence his critics.