MU Shorts
Modric, Valverde return; Hazard starts in a 4-3-3: Predicted Real Madrid lineup against Girona
Having lost their first match of the season against RB Leipzig earlier this week, Real Madrid will be aiming to bounce back strongly when they host Girona at the Santiago Bernabeu in La Liga on Sunday.
Los Blancos will need to make sure that they do not drop points, especially with Barcelona breathing down their necks.
However, Carlo Ancelotti will have to cope with the absence of his captain and ace goalscorer Karim Benzema once again. With Rodrygo Goes’ involvement also not certain, the Italian tactician will have a few important decisions to make with regard to his team selection against Girona.
And Madrid Universal takes a look at how Real Madrid could line up on Sunday at the Bernabeu.
Starters
Thibaut Courtois is a confirmed starter in goal for Real Madrid when fit and available. The goalkeeper was critical of his teammates in midweek after letting in three goals and will be hoping to secure a clean sheet.
There are expected to be wholesale changes in defence, with Eder Militao the only player likely to retain his spot from the RB Leipzig encounter. Partnering the Brazilian should be David Alaba, coming into the team in place of Nacho Fernandez.
Ferland Mendy and Dani Carvajal ought to replace Antonio Rudiger and Lucas Vazquez as the full-backs on the left and right sides, respectively.
Moving into the middle of the park, Luka Modric has returned to training for Real Madrid and should walk right back into the starting XI against Girona. The Croatian will be partnered by fellow veteran Toni Kroos as the pair look to control and dictate the tempo of the game.
Aurelien Tchouameni should continue anchoring the midfielder, where he could have to keep an eye out on the in-form Aleix Garcia.
The attacking unit is where things get tricky for Ancelotti and Real Madrid. Vinicius Jr is a guaranteed starter on the left flank and will act as the primary attacking threat for the home team in Benzema’s absence.
Federico Valverde, back from his injury, could feature from the get-go, although Ancelotti has the option of continuing with Marco Asensio in case he does not wish to rush the Uruguayan midfielder back.
As for the centre-forward slot, with Rodrygo recovering from an illness, he might not be in a position to start against Girona. It could force Ancelotti to hand Eden Hazard a rare opportunity as the false-nine ahead of Mariano. The Belgian has not played in the league since September 11 and must make the most of his chance.
Vinicius • Hazard • Valverde
Kroos • Tchouameni • Modric
Mendy • Alaba • Militao • Carvajal
Courtois
Substitutes
Eduardo Camavinga is pretty much guaranteed to come on at some stage in the second half to provide relief for Modric. Dani Ceballos, who is back from injury, could also get a few minutes depending on the circumstances of the game, while the same will hold for Mariano Diaz as well.
Marco Asensio has done well off the bench in the past few matches and could look to make an impact again in the latter stages of the game.
Real Madrid returned to winning ways with a narrow 1-0 victory over Villarreal, but the performance once again left a lot to be desired.
The result did little to hide the problems that continue to affect Jose Mourinho’s team, and the refereeing controversies became a talking point once more.
Yan Diomande’s second-half goal helped Los Blancos secure three valuable points. That said, Madrid struggled to establish sustained attacking control over the game.
There were some encouraging individual performances, but the same questions about the midfield, Arda Guler’s positioning and the team’s attacking structure cropped up.
Here are four things we learned from Real Madrid’s narrow 1-0 victory over Villarreal.
Yan Diomande is ready to start more regularly
Diomande was easily Madrid’s most dangerous attacking player against Villarreal, and his decisive goal was a consequence of an impressive performance.
What makes the youngster particularly valuable is his willingness to attack defenders directly. Madrid have often looked hesitant in possession this season.
They have kept the ball and circulated it without necessarily focusing on one-v-one situations, which could be directly related to Vinicius Junior’s poor form.
Diomande offered something different in this regard. His directness forced full-backs into making decisions and opened up space for his team-mates.
With Vinicius now facing a potential suspension, Mourinho has an obvious opportunity to give Diomande greater responsibility.
Valverde-Tchouameni double pivot does not work
Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni are excellent footballers. That said, they do not seem to work well together for Madrid.
Both offer physicality, defensive awareness and the ability to cover large areas. Those qualities are important, particularly for a team that can be vulnerable when opponents counter-attack.
However, Madrid’s biggest problem against Villarreal was not a lack of defensive protection. It was their difficulty progressing the ball into dangerous areas.
Too often, both midfielders moved the ball sideways without offering a penetrating option that broke the Villarreal defence.
Valverde’s greatest strengths include his powerful running and ability to influence different phases of play.
He looked much better operating as a flank player than as a midfielder, and it is high time Mourinho started using Bernardo Silva more regularly.
Arda Guler is far more useful operating centrally
Guler’s positioning remains another important tactical question. The Turkey international possesses the vision, technical quality and passing range to influence the game and turn it in Madrid’s favour.
Against Villarreal, Madrid looked more fluid whenever Guler moved inside and helped connect the midfield with the forwards.
From central positions, he can receive between opposition lines, combine with Jude Bellingham and identify forward runs before defenders have time to react.
Even if Guler starts on the wing, his primary role has to be drifting inside and almost acting as a second No. 10 in build-up alongside Bellingham.
Having excellent attack-minded overlapping right-backs like Denzel Dumfries and Trent Alexander-Arnold allows Guler to do just that.
Madrid must start using Guler more centrally in the coming weeks and make use of his excellent vision to improve their attacking structure.
A group of talented individuals
Perhaps the biggest concern is that Madrid continue to look more dangerous through individual moments of brilliance rather than collective play.
There is no shortage of quality. Mbappe, Vinicius, Bellingham, Guler and Diomande all possess the ability to decide matches.
However, Mourinho is yet to identify a system that gives the team structure and allows these stars to thrive in unison.
When one player receives possession, team-mates should already be moving into positions that create multiple options.
Too often, Madrid’s attackers appear disconnected, leaving the player on the ball to solve the situation alone.
With a trip to the Spotify Camp Nou approaching, Madrid need to address this situation sooner rather than later.
Mourinho has the talent available. Now he needs to make those players function as a team if he harbours any hope of success in La Liga this season.
