Real Madrid is put to the test against Elche at its best

with the italian Carlo Ancelotti there is no minor tournament. It is the message that he repeats in the locker room so that his players fight for everything and do not lower the intensity. After eliminating Alcoyano with solvency and healing the wound that remained open from the last sonorous setback a year ago, Elche is the first test of the highest category for a team launched in the League and that arrives after being proclaimed champion of the Spanish Super Cup .

Wear in the competition played in Saudi Arabia and the long journey invites Ancelotti to measure efforts. That is why his great scoring reference, the Frenchman, stayed in Madrid Karim Benzema, and must decide whether to grant more breaks at the start and bring in players who must prove their worth, such as the Belgian Eden Hazard or welsh Gareth Bale, a great novelty in the call that has been unprecedented at Real Madrid since August 28.

The white team arrives at the meeting conditioned by casualties, especially in the defensive line with Daniel Carvajal absent due to coronavirus, Militao due to sanction and Jesus Vallejo due to muscle injury. David Alaba He has just recovered from some muscular discomfort that made him miss the classic in Riyadh and the summons of a central defender from Castilla, Mad Mario, appears as new.

The goal will continue to be in the Copa del Rey for the Ukrainian Andriy Lunin, without the presence of the undisputed Thibaut Courtois, who does not travel due to an indisposition. They also lose the game Marco Asensio and Mariano Diaz. Added to Benzema’s rest, it will cause the trident to show new faces. With the Serbian Luka Jovic as the only 9 and the leadership won by the Brazilian vinicius, whom his technician does not see tired. Eduardo Camavinga and Fede Valverde can give Toni Kroos and Luka Modric a break; while Hazard has many options to return to eleven after running out of minutes in the Super Cup.

The Elche team, revitalized since the arrival of the coach Francis Rodriguez to his bench, he has put land in between with relegation and is confident of living a historic day against the Madrid team, who do not want surprises in a tournament that has choked him in the final rounds in recent years.

The butler duel will be marked by absences and doubts on the Elche side. Covid infections have multiplied in the Elche locker room and have affected both the players and the coaching staff. Francis and his assistant, James Ramos, They will not be able to lead the team from the bench after having tested positive, like the players Javier Pastore and Josema Sánchez, safe casualties for this match.

The Argentine will not be available either Darío Benedetto, who has already left the club to sign for Boca Juniors, nor Enzo Roco, Iván Marcone and Pedro Bigas, all three with physical problems. The discharges in the citation can be those of Fidel Chaves and Helibelton Palacios, who have already overcome covid, while Pablo Piatti and Kiko Casilla are doubtful, since they must complete two negative results in the tests.

The line-up is unknown, especially if you take into account that both teams will meet again on Sunday in the League, although in Madrid. Francis is also likely to bet on a team full of starters in search of a historic result in a tournament in which Elche already managed to reach the final in 1969.