Villarrealvs.Real Madrid

Los Blancos will enter the match off the back of a penalty-shootout success over Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, with the holders advancing to the quarter-finals of the competition, where they will meet Arsenal.

Ferland Mendy will miss out against Villarreal with the muscular problem that forced him off against Atletico, meaning that Fran Garcia is highly likely to earn a start at left-back this weekend.

Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao, Dani Ceballos and Jesus Vallejo remain sidelined for Los Blancos, but aside from Mendy, no further issues have been reported from the Madrid derby.

Lucas Vazquez is likely to be recalled at right-back on Saturday, which would see Federico Valverde pushed into midfield, and Luka Modric is likely to be the player to drop out of the side in that position.

In an ideal world, Ancelotti would look to rest some key attackers, but due to the importance of the match, it is expected that Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and Kylian Mbappe will again all be in the XI.

Eduardo Camavinga and Brahim Diaz are options to come into the side, but it is likely that the duo will again be used off the bench against the Yellow Submarine.

Real Madrid possible starting lineup: Courtois; Vazquez, Asencio, Rudiger, F Garcia; Valverde, Tchouameni, Bellingham; Rodrygo, Mbappe, Vinicius

Written by

Matt Law