Real Madrid aims to extend its winning streak The classic to five games when they host their rival Barcelona on Saturday evening.
The La Liga defenders have not quite convinced at the start of the 2024/25 campaign and are already playing catch-up with Hansi Flick’s impressive Barca side. However, a win on Saturday would draw them level on points with the Catalan giants and claim bragging rights from Madridistas around the world.
Carlo Ancelotti’s preparations have not been helped injury strikes for Thibaut Courtois and Rodrygo. Both struggled in the midweek win against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League and will miss Saturday’s game, which could force a line-up change for the Italian.
Here’s how Madrid could line up Barçathe visit of
GK: Andriy Lunin – Courtois’ absence means that Lunin will replace another classic. The Ukrainian can certainly be trusted these days after playing almost the entire 2023/24 campaign with Madrid.
RB: Lucas Vázquez – Dani Carvajal’s long-term injury has given even more importance to the experienced Vázquez, who should start again at right-back at the weekend. He scored a spectacular goal in midweek but could prove a defensive liability for Madrid against the in-form Raphinha.
CB: Eder Militao – After fighting against Dortmund in a repeat of last season’s Champions League final, things won’t get any easier for Militao against one of BVB’s former strikers in Robert Lewandowski. The Pole, who has scored 12 goals in La Liga this season, will aim to isolate the Brazilian centre-half.
CB: Antonio Rudiger – The German, who scored a crucial goal against Dortmund, will have to back up Militao on Saturday, with Lewandowski likely to step away from the battles with Rudiger. He is always a reliable presence at the back of Madrid.
LB: Ferland Mendy РMendy was the worst player on the pitch against Dortmundwhich does not bode well for a meeting with turbo Lamine Yamal. The Bar̤a winger has averaged one goal or one assist per game in La Liga this season.
DM: Aurelien Tchouameni – Tchouameni will anchor Madrid’s midfield on Saturday, with Ancelotti potentially reverting to the 4-3-1-2 formation used last season. With busy bees around him, the former Monaco man should be well protected.
CM: Federico Valverde – The ever-reliable Valverde has been outstanding this season and is the perfect box-to-box midfielder for Ancelotti. He will be in charge of giving some attack on Saturday.
CM: Edward Camavinga – Luke Modric remains world class, but the Croatian played just over 70 minutes against Dortmund. The 39-year-old can be replaced by the energetic Camavinga.
AM: Jude Bellingham – Having scored late winners in both classic matches in the League last seasonBellingham could do with another vital contribution this weekend. The Englishman’s luck is out at the moment and he has yet to score for Madrid this season.
ST: Kylian Mbappe – Mbappé may not have wowed the crowd in the same way that Vinicius Junior has this season, but he still has eight goals in 13 games for Madrid. The Frenchman will be keen to try out a central pairing that includes 17-year-old Pau Cubarsi and 33-year-old Inigo MartÃnez.
ST: Vinicius Junior – Not surprisingly, it was Vinicius favorite for Ballon d’Or who shone midweek when Madrid needed a hero. The victory of his comeback was forged by the fast-footed Brazilianwhich ended with a sensational hat-trick against Dortmund.
