Real Madrid – Valladolid: Key Matchup in LaLiga EA Sports

Real Madrid – Valladolid: Formation Insights

Ancelotti had to make two mandatory changes in his lineup against Valladolid from the squad that played in the Supercup and the slight debut against Mallorca. Seeking substitutes for Mendy (suspended) and Bellingham (injured), Fran García appears to be a straightforward choice for the first. In replacing Bellingham, multiple candidates were considered: Modric, Arda Güler, among others. Ultimately, the Real Madrid coach chose the Turk to join Tchouameni and Valverde in the midfield, a position Carletto had anticipated since pre-season: “The best position for Arda is between lines, he can be a 10, or an interior right... In the future, he could be one of three midfielders,” the coach stated during pre-season in the USA. This future is now present as Mbappé makes his home debut at the Bernabéu.

Key Tactical Adjustments

Aside from these two compulsory changes, there aren’t any new names in Ancelotti’s lineup; however, Bellingham’s entry for Güler may shift Madrid’s tactical setup. While the front four, including the absent Bellingham, tended to veer left in the last match at Son Moix, Ancelotti plans for Güler to enter from the left to capitalize on his left-footed shot, which exhibited a 100% scoring rate last season: six shots on target equated to six goals in the 440 minutes he played.

• Starting XI: Courtois, Carvajal, Militao, Rüdiger, Fran García; Valverde, Tchouameni; Güler; Rodrygo, Mbappé, and Vinicius.
• Bench: Lunin, Fran González; Lucas Vázquez, Jacobo Ramón, Modric, Ceballos, Endrick, and Brahim.

The Real Madrid squad is feeling the effects of four absences for this second league game: Vallejo, Camavinga, Bellingham, and Alaba. The Spanish central has muscle discomfort and has not been included in the Italian coach's squad. The Frenchman will remain out until late September due to an internal ligament sprain he picked up after a training mishap. The English player suffers from a plantar muscle injury and will also be sidelined for approximately a month. Meanwhile, Alaba battles the final stages of recovery from a knee injury.

Looking Ahead

After the clash against Valladolid, Real Madrid will face Las Palmas in their next league match in the Canary Islands on August 29th (21:30 Spanish time). Following a draw in the opening match against Mallorca, Real Madrid is eager to capture their first league win, which is crucial as they defend their title. This game is especially notable for Mbappé’s debut at Santiago Bernabéu, seeking to light up the stage.

As the team strives to reclaim the league title last claimed in 2007-2008, and potentially facing up to 72 matches this season, Ancelotti must ensure rotations are effectively managed to keep key players fresh while maintaining team performance. The first round's disappointment acts as a warning: this league will be a challenging journey.

The last time Madrid faced Valladolid, they emerged with an impressive 6-0 victory, marking one of the club's historical highlights. Fans anticipate replicating such triumphant results as they follow the team closely.