Predicted Real Madrid Line-up To Face Malaga In La Liga
Real Madrid put on a good show in the Champions League earlier this week as they beat Apoel Nicosia 6-0, to confirm their position in the next round of the competition. The Madrid giants are back in action this weekend when they welcome Malaga to the Bernabeu on Saturday. Currently at 18th position, Malaga have won two of their last three games, but are not expected to dent Real’s momentum in this game.
Zinedine Zidane’s men drew blanks against Atletico Madrid in the last round of the league and will hope to get back to winning ways, against a struggling side.
Team News
Gareth Bale and Sergio Ramos are both ruled out for this game against Espanyol. Keylor Navas is finally back in training and might start this game while Mateo Kovacic, should be fit enough to make the bench.
Formation: 4-3-1-2
Manager: Zinedine Zidane
GK – Keylor Navas
Finally back in training, Navas remains Zidane’s first choice and should be pushed into the starting XI straight away.
RB – Dani Carvajal
Carvajal has made a difference ever since he came back from an injury and he will hope to have a similar impact this weekend.
CB – Raphael Varane
With Ramos out, Varane will turn into the senior defender this weekend and will have to keep a close eye on a Malaga attack that has been productive in the last few games.
CB – Nacho
Zidane has preferred Nacho as his third-choice CB this season and with Ramos ruled out for this game, he is expected to start alongside Varane.
LB – Marcelo
Captained the side that beat APOEL Nicosia earlier in the week, for just the first hour and is expected to be fresh for this game.
CDM – Casemiro
The Brazilian remains one of the most effective midfielders in the game at the moment and will have his work cut out against their immediate opponents, who have found some form in recent games.
CM – Luka Modric
The Croatian has not been at his best this season but Real Madrid need him to add that flair and creativity to their midfield.
CM – Toni Kroos
With Kovacic still out, Kroos, who also got an hour against APOEL Nicosia, is expected to be back in action this weekend.
CAM – Isco
The Spanish playmaker is right up there with the best in the game at the moment and he should start in a No.10 role against Malaga.
SS – Karim Benzema
Though Asensio has been decent recently, Benzema, who only got an hour earlier in the week, is more of a goal threat and should start this game.
ST – Cristiano Ronaldo
With yet another couple of goals in the UCL, Ronaldo has been sensational in that competition and will now want to shift that form into the domestic league, starting against Malaga this weekend.