Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti will rotate his lineup when Los Blancos face Real Sociedad in La Liga on Friday.
In the pre-match press conference, in which the Italian praised Xavi Hernandez’s resolve against Barcelona and also chose his Ballon d’Or, Ancelotti said the players were “looking forward to playing the game”.
“We’re mathematically seven points away from winning the championship. It will be a difficult game, unlike Real,” he predicted.
Although both missed training, Ancelotti insisted Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo would travel to San Sebastian, while Ferland Mendy would remain in place.
A few hours later, however, Mendy’s name appeared on the published list, as expected, but also that of Bellingham, Ancelotti’s most sensible goalscorer.
On Friday, however, he was replaced to come with the Englishman but not Rodrygo.
Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final first leg between Madrid and Bayern Munich is highly influential and has a number of rotations.
Kepa in goal, as well as Eder Militao at centre-back for the first time since the first matchday of the season, when he stopped with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament at Athletic Club, Real’s Basque rivals.
Captain Nacho joins the Brazilian, while Fran Garcia replaces Mendy and Dani Carvajal is the right-back.
In midfield, Luka Modric earned his back-to-back nomination after the Clasico and teamed up with Aurélien Tchouameni in a double pivot.
Arda Guler finally made his La Liga debut and, with Dani Caballos, took the places of Bellingham and Fede Valverde.
Up front, Joselu and Brahim update Vinicius Jr. and Rodrygo, who were sent off after catching the flu.
Regardless of the 11 players he chooses, Ancelotti says his men will have to “fight and fight” for the La Liga name until mathematically it’s no longer imaginable that others will take it over.
“The dynamic is very good, it’s also helping us prepare for Champions League games. We have to strive to be competitive and make the most of it. Tomorrow we have to compete, fight and strive to win,” he said. said of Friday’s game.