This Saturday, Real Madrid welcomes Hansi Flick’s FC Barcelona to the Bernabéu for the first Clasico of the La Liga season. Riding high after their heroic victory against Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday in the Champions League, Carlo Ancelotti may surprise with his starting lineup.
Real Madrid experienced a whirlwind of emotions on Tuesday in the Champions League but found its rhythm late in the match against Borussia Dortmund. Trailing 0-2 at halftime, Ancelotti’s squad came back to demolish their opponent. The catalyst was Kylian Mbappé, who delivered two assists within two minutes to level the score at 2-2. The world’s best player then took over, scoring a sensational hat-trick.
Ancelotti intends to build on this performance against last season’s Champions League finalists as he prepares for Saturday’s Clasico, marking the 11th day of La Liga. However, the Italian coach faces a formidable FC Barcelona side, fresh off a dominant 4-1 win over Bayern Munich in the Champions League. Currently leading La Liga, Barcelona arrives with a nearly complete squad, with key players like Dani Olmo, Gavi, and Frenkie De Jong returning. Only Marc-André ter Stegen and Ronald Araújo remain sidelined.
Ancelotti’s key absences for the Clasico
While Real Madrid made a spectacular comeback against Borussia Dortmund, winning 5-2, they also suffered two significant losses. Thibaut Courtois and Rodrygo Goes were ruled out following the match, with the club confirming their injuries through official announcements. These essential starters are sidelined for Saturday’s Clasico.
Adding to the challenges, Ancelotti is without Dani Carvajal, whose season was tragically cut short by a severe injury, and David Alaba, who has been out with a knee injury since December 2023. Facing Barça with a squad hit hard by injuries, Ancelotti must adjust his strategy against an opponent with a singular goal: to defeat Real Madrid at the Bernabéu.
Valverde returns to the wing, Ancelotti’s expected lineup
For Kylian Mbappé’s first Clasico, Ancelotti aims to stick to his plan. After defeating Borussia Dortmund, he seems set on maintaining the 4-3-3 formation, even with Rodrygo’s absence.
Ancelotti is likely to start Fede Valverde on the right wing, a role he successfully played in the 2022 Champions League final against Liverpool, where he assisted Vinícius Jr. for the game’s only goal. This setup frees up a midfield position, with Aurélien Tchouaméni in a defensive role. Jude Bellingham and Luka Modrić are expected to take advanced positions ahead of Tchouaméni, while Eduardo Camavinga will start on the bench. Up front, the Vinícius Jr. – Kylian Mbappé duo remains unchanged.
Expected Real Madrid Lineup vs. Barcelona
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