El Clasico 2021/22- How will Real Madrid line-up against FC Barcelona?

El Clasico 2021/22- How will Real Madrid line-up against FC Barcelona?

Real Madrid will take on FC Barcelona in the first El Clasico of the season on the 24th of October, to earn the bragging rights over their eternal rivals for a third successive time since last season. Los Blancos started off the season in flying style under new manager Carlo Ancelotti but seemed to lose their initial good form and suffered two successive defeats before the second international break took place earlier this month.

A lot is at stake in what is considered the biggest rivalry in club football, and neither team will want to drop points against their long-term rivals. Ancelotti will look to bring back memories of his first spell in charge of the club where he enjoyed decent success in these big games and field a strong enough lineup that will get his side all three points on the day.

Continuing our buildup for the big day, we look at how Carlo Ancelotti might make Real Madrid lineup to outdo Ronald Koeman’s Barcelona.

Real Madrid predicted Lineup

Real Madrid lineup
Real Madrid lineup

Goalkeeper

Thibaut Courtois
Thibaut Courtois

Thibaut Courtois- The giant Belgian keeper is the obvious choice for the role, as he is the number 1 keeper at the club and has proven his mettle a number of times between the sticks in Los Blancos’ colors. Courtois has a good experience of playing in the El Clasico and denied Lionel Messi and company twice last season, to seal two victories for his side. However, he will aim for a first-ever clean sheet in the El Clasico, when he takes on the position on Sunday.

Defenders

David Alaba and Militao
David Alaba and Militao
  • Lucas Vazquez
  • Militao
  • Alaba
  • Ferland Mendy

Real Madrid’s biggest problem this season has been their defense, and the new center-backs in Eder Militao and David Alaba will have a big test ahead of them in the absence of the ever-present Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane both of whom have left the club this season. Along with the two center backs, Ancelotti will be using the versatile midfielder Lucas Vazquez and the French defender Ferland Mendy on the left side of the defense.

Kroos Modric and Casemiro
Kroos, Modric and Casemiro

Midfielders

  • Toni Kroos
  • Luka Modric
  • Casemiro

If any side can boast of a midfield trio, who have won it all in their playing careers, and have lasted for this long at the top level it has to be Real Madrid in the current football era. Toni Kross, Modric, and Casemiro are all some of the best players in their position and continue to deliver match-winning performances at the top level. With all three of them available, very few managers will drop them from a starting line-up in such a big match.

Ancelotti might ponder as to whether to fit in Fede Valverde in the starting lineup but if so, he would be playing in addition to Modric, Casemiro, and Kroos and not in place of either of them.

Strikers

Benzema and Vinicius
Benzema and Vinicius
  • Vinicius
  • Karim Benzema
  • Rodrygo

Although Eden Hazard has returned to training this week, it comes as no surprise that Ancelotti will not keep him in the starting lineup especially after the kind of form Vinicius has shown on the left-wing position, almost to make it his own. The combination with Karim Benzema has blossomed this year, and both have been in exceptional goal-scoring form since the start of this campaign. To partner with them, Ancelotti will in all probability employ the hard-working Rodrygo who has shown his work rate at Real Madrid. The winger tracks back and will look to work in tandem with Lucas Vazquez on the right flank to nullify the threat posed by Ansu Fati and Alba.

Also Read: ‘The only way we can win el clasico’: Netizens react as reports of Karim Benzema’s arrest surface