Saturday, November 23, 2024, 7:00 p.m.
Real Madrid returns to the competition after the balmy victory against Osasuna at the Bernabéu and the national team break. The appointment against Leganés in Butarque, an apparent visit conducive to taking off at home, however, contains an interesting challenge for Ancelotti, forced to cope due to the plague of injuries that plagues his defense this season.
Without the absent Carvajal, Militao, Lucas Vázquez and Alaba, and given the testimonial role of Jesús Vallejo in the white squad, the Italian has no other options than to improvise with Valverde at right back and place his hopes in the good tone that the youth player Asencio showed in the duel against Osasuna. “It is an option but there are others that we have tried during this break,” Carletto revealed regarding this possibility, clearly the most probable given the circumstances.
Madrid intends to make amends and get into the fight for the championship by polishing its numbers as a visitor. It is true that in the League Chamartín’s team has not known defeat away from home, but between the domestic championship and the Champions League they have only won in two of their six games away from the Bernabéu this season.
«The team is fine, those who have played with the national team have returned without problems and those who have been here have worked well. We have to confirm the good feelings from the last game because a very important cycle of games begins,” Ancelotti analyzed in the preview of the duel. Among those who added minutes and kilometers of travel in the FIFA window is Brahim Díaz, devastating with Morocco and worthy of Madrid to demand the opportunities he deserves. Also Vinicius, who in white has plenty of the brilliance that he does not find in Brazil, and Bellingham, released for two convincing performances both for his club and for the English team.
Meanwhile, Mbappé has taken advantage of the impasse to work in Valdebebas in search of his best version, which is still expected in Madrid. «Bad streaks happen and have happened to all great forwards. “I see him happy, calm and happy to be here,” Carletto settled regarding the rumors about the Frenchman’s emotional state. “Speculating on this seems too ugly to me,” he added in this sense. Butarque offers the Frenchman the option of rediscovering the goal four games and a month later. While waiting for goals from the Bondy star, the return of the lock Courtois strengthens Madrid’s battered back.
-Probable alignments:
Leganés: Dmitrovic, Altimira, Sergio González, Nastasic, Javi Hernández, Cissé, Neyou, Brasanac, Juan Cruz, Miguel de la Fuente and Munir.
Real Madrid: Courtois, Valverde, Rüdiger, Asencio, Mendy, Modric, Camavinga, Bellingham, Brahim, Mbappé and Vinicius.
Referee: Alberola Rojas (Castellano-Manchego Committee).
Stadium: Butarque.
Time and TV: 6:30 p.m. Movistar LaLiga.
