MU Shorts
Hazard, Tchouameni start in a 4-3-3: How Real Madrid could line up against Cacereno
Real Madrid will look to kickstart 2023 with a resounding victory when they lock horns with RFEF Segunda Division side CP Cacereno in the Copa del Rey Round of 32.
Having restarted their season after the World Cup with a win against Real Valladolid, Carlo Ancelotti’s side will be gunning to build momentum ahead of a busy couple of months.
On top of that, Real Madrid will also be motivated to end their drought in Copa del Rey, having last won the competition in 2014. While it is certainly an important game for the club, Ancelotti will look to rest and rotate his key players, especially with a flurry of matches coming up.
Ahead of the Copa del Rey encounter on Tuesday, Madrid Universal takes a look at how Los Blancos could take the field against Cacereno.
Starters
With Thibaut Courtois sidelined with a minor niggle, Andriy Lunin becomes the automatic selection in goal for Real Madrid. In front of him, there are expected to be wholesale changes in the defensive line.
Like Courtois, Dani Carvajal is also ruled out, paving the way for Lucas Vazquez to get the nod at right-back. Reports today suggested that the manager tried Alvaro Odriozola at left-back and could give him a start, benching Ferland Mendy in the process. It will be the Spaniard’s first official appearance of the season.
Ancelotti has already confirmed that David Alaba will be rested for the game. And with Antonio Rudiger having played in the last game, he too is unlikely to be involved. This should see Eder Militao and Nacho Fernandez start as the centre-backs.
Like Alaba, both Luka Modric and Toni Kroos are also set to be rested, opening the doors for World Cup finalists Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni to start in the centre of the park on Tuesday night.
Federico Valverde could also be preserved by the manager as a potential option in attack for later. So, Dani Ceballos is expected to keep hold of his spot in the three-man midfield unit for Real Madrid.
Finally, moving to the attacking unit, Ancelotti had already revealed that Eden Hazard will start in the cup tie. The Belgian should get the nod on the left in place of Vinicius Jr, who will be rested.
Rodrygo Goes should replace club captain Karim Benzema, who will also be given a break, in the centre-forward role. Marco Asensio should continue on the right as he looks to make an impression on the staff and earn a new contract.
Hazard · Rodrygo · Asensio
Camavinga · Tchouameni · Ceballos
Odriozola · Nacho · Militao · Vazquez
Lunin
Substitutes
Federico Valverde is likely to come on at some point in the game, either as a relief in midfield or an additional attacking option should things go wrong. Ferland Mendy could be called upon if the Odriozola experiment at left-back does not go according to plans.
Sergio Arribas, who has been slaying it for Castilla, should get some minutes on the pitch on Tuesday as well.
Another potential academy prospect who could get a look-in would be Nico Paz. Several Real Madrid officials reportedly believe that he is ready for the first team and Ancelotti could test that theory against Cacereno.
Real Madrid will look to secure their place in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League when they take on Premier League bigwigs Liverpool in the second leg of their Round of 16 encounter tonight.
The Merengues are already in a solid position thanks to their 5-2 comeback victory in the first leg at Anfield, led by brilliant performances from Vinicius Jr and Karim Benzema.
But the job is far from done as the Reds are perfectly capable of mounting a strong comeback, having done so in the past against Barcelona only a few years ago. The recent 7-0 thrashing of Manchester United also showed the capabilities of Jurgen Klopp’s men.
So, Carlo Ancelotti & co. will need to be professional and get the job done while guarding against any sort of complacency. The manager has a near-full squad at his disposal, with David Alaba the only player missing with an injury.
With the game set to kick off at the Santiago Bernabeu later tonight, Madrid Universal takes a look at how Los Blancos could line up against Liverpool.
Starters
Thibaut Courtois is a certain starter in goal for Real Madrid and will look to keep a clean sheet this time out after letting in two goals at Anfield in the reverse fixture.
The Belgian international will likely be shielded by the centre-back pairing of Eder Militao, who was in fine nick against Espanyol over the weekend, and Antonio Rudiger.
Dani Carvajal is a guaranteed starter at right-back, while Nacho Fernandez is set to get the nod on the left side after his solid performance after coming on as a substitute at Anfield. Ferland Mendy is back in the squad, but is unlikely to be thrust into the spotlight right away.
Moving into the middle of the park, Carlo Ancelotti has always banked on the experience of Luka Modric and Toni Kroos for the big games, and that will not change tonight against Liverpool at the Bernabeu.
The defensive midfield slot is up for grabs with neither Aurelien Tchouameni nor Eduardo Camavinga impressing against Espanyol. But, Camavinga has been in a much better nick in recent times than his compatriot and should get the nod.
As for the attacking trident, captain Karim Benzema is back in the squad after sitting out against Espanyol with an ankle issue. He is certain to start as the centre-forward while Vinicius Jr is a certainty on the left flank.
On the right, the likes of Rodrygo Goes, Marco Asensio and Federico Valverde are all options for Ancelotti, but it is the latter who is likely to get the nod tonight.
Real Madrid Predicted XI: Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Rudiger, Nacho; Modric, Camavinga, Kroos; Valverde, Benzema, Vinicius.
Substitutes
Rodrygo Goes has often made a big impact coming off the bench, especially in the big games and is certain to get minutes at some stage against Liverpool. Marco Asensio is another player who can provide goals from the bench and can be an asset.
Alternatively, if Carlo Ancelotti is looking to shore things up in midfield, the energy of Dani Ceballos might come in handy while Aurelien Tchouameni would also be in contention.
Youngster Alvaro Rodriguez has been making quite an impression of late and could get some minutes under his belt as well.
