Ancelotti set to bench three key Real Madrid stars vs Espanyol – report | OneFootball

Later tonight, Real Madrid will be back in action at the Santiago Bernabeu as they take on RCD Espanyol in Matchweek six of the 2024/25 La Liga.

Real Madrid go into the game with four players unavailable as David Alaba, Eduardo Camavinga, Brahim Diaz, and Dani Ceballos are all out injured.

Considering the tight run of fixtures, it is expected that manager Carlo Ancelotti will rotate some of his players in the upcoming games starting tonight.

Vinicius, Rudiger, and Mendy to be rested

Indeed, according to journalist Miguel Angel Diaz, Carlo Ancelotti is planning to rest three of his key players, Vinicius Jr., Antonio Rudiger, and Ferland Mendy against RCD Espanyol tonight.

Rudiger has been playing non-stop since the start of the season thanks to the injuries in the centre-back department. Like the German defender, Vinicius, too has started all of the Merengues’ seven games this season.

Set to be benched. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Mendy has also been a constant presence in the team, barring the one match he missed through suspension.

As such, Ancelotti plans to give them a breather and bench them tonight against Espanyol.

Who will be the replacements?

With the key trio set to be benched, Real Madrid will see Arda Guler, Luka Modric, and Fran Garcia enter the starting XI tonight as per the report.

Guler would be the direct replacement for Vinicius in attack, although it will be interesting to see if he is used in an attacking midfield role as part of a 4-4-2 diamond or on the wings in a 4-3-3.

Meanwhile, Modric would slot in as the defensive midfielder for Real Madrid with Aurelien Tchouameni likely to drop back into the centre-back position vacated by Rudiger.

Finally, Fran Garcia would be a direct swap for Mendy at left-back.