Real Madrid would be playing host to mid-table side, Eibar for an early Saturday kick-off at the Spanish Capital. Zinedine Zidane’s men lost 2-1 to Valencia in their mid-week trip to the Mestalla Stadium. It will be important for Los Blancos to return to winning ways in this fixture.
Eibar have won only two of their last five encounters, but it would certainly not be a walk in the park for Zidane & Co. Eibar have picked up 39 points this season and will be in the quest to add to their tally when they make the trip down south to Santiago Bernabeu. Their last league meeting against Rayo Vallecano ended in a 2-1 victory their favour.
Zinedine Zidane would have to seek for alternatives in the left-back position as Marcelo picked up his fifth yellow card in the loss against Valencia. The Brazilian would not be eligible to participate in this fixture. Dani Carvajal, Vinicius Junior and Thibaut Courtois continue to remain unavailable for selection due to injury.
Real Madrid does not have much to play for this season, but it will be important for Zidane to connect a few missing dots with the games remaining this season. A trial and error line-up is expected to take the field at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday.
Here’s how Real Madrid are expected to line-up against Eibar.
Defence
Keylor Navas would take charge between the sticks in the absence of first-choice goalie, Thibaut Courtois. Odriozola would continue to slot into the right-back position till Carvajal makes a full recovery from injury.
The pairing of Varane and Ramos would be starting in the centre-back positions. To the left of the Madrid captain would be one of the brightest sparks of the season for Madrid, Sergi Reguilon. The left-back would seek to make the most of the opportunity as Zidane has preferred Marcelo since his return to the managerial post at the Bernabeu.
Midfield
Luka Modric would be starting on the left flank. The Croatian is expected to be taken off around the hour mark with age catching up on him. Marcos Llorente is expected to get the nod for this encounter in place of Casemiro who seemed fatigued in Real Madrid’s last league outing. Toni Kroos would be the third man in this midfield pivot.
Isco Alarcon who was missing from the starting eleven against Valencia would be most likely starting ahead of this midfield trident.
Attack
Gareth Bale would be starting in attack and should be partnered by Karim Benzema. The Frenchman has been amongst the goals lately, and probably one of the men who has kept this Real Madrid side ticking lately. Gareth Bale would need to put in a good performance to please the Santiago Bernabeu faithful, or he could be facing the exit doors this coming summer.
Starting Eleven
Navas
Odriozola – Varane – Ramos – Reguilon
Modric – Llorente – Kroos
Isco
Bale – Benzema
