After a chastening defeat in the Supercopa de Espana final, Real Madrid take on Celta Vigo in the Copa del Rey round of 16 on Thursday night.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side had enjoyed a productive opening to the new year, but another emphatic defeat at the hands of Clasico rivals Barcelona has opened the door for another interrogation in the Spanish capital.
The rarely flummoxed Italian manager has been a bit tetchy in the aftermath, and he could do with a bounce-back triumph in midweek before Los Blancos play catch-up to Atletico Madrid in La Liga.
Madrid didn’t have to exit first gear in the round of 32 of this competition as they downed minnows Deportivo Minera 5-0 ten days ago.
Celta were forced to overcome a burgeoning Real Santander side 3-2 to set up Thursday’s tie. The visitors have evolved into a far more intriguing tactical unit in the wake of Rafa Benitez’s dismissal, and they’re on course for a comfortable mid-table finish in La Liga under promising coach Claudio Giraldez.
Ancelotti paid for leaving his midfield pivot on an island in the Supercopa de Espana final, with Madrid’s front four failing to fire with the exception of Kylian Mbappe.
The boss will make changes on Thursday night ahead of the weekend’s La Liga tussle with Las Palmas. Mbappe could retain his place up top, but he’ll likely be joined by Arda Guler and Brahim Diaz in attack. Vini Jr is available but suspended in La Liga, so a start makes sense here.
Luka Modric and Dani Ceballos are in contention for starts in the middle of the park, with Eduardo Camavinga suffering from illness and Federico Valverde in need of a rest.
The hosts are still without long-term absentees Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao.
Real Madrid lineup vs Celta Vigo (4-2-3-1): Lunin; Vazquez, Asencio, Rudiger, Garcia; Ceballos, Modric; Guler, Diaz, Vinicius Jr; Mbappe.
Celta have an outside shot of claiming European football this season, but they have no reason not to prioritise this fixture at the Bernabeu. Highly-regarded head coach Claudio Gonzalez should opt for as strong a team as possible in the Spanish capital.
The visitors cannot call upon veteran skipper Iago Aspas, who’s currently sidelined with a muscle injury. Marcos Alonso, once of Barcelona, misses out with an ankle injury and he won’t he able to play at the weekend after his dismissal in La Liga last weekend.
Alfon Gonzalez is out for a few weeks but Mihailo Ristic and Javier Rodriguez are both available.