Real Madrid is set to face Athletic Club in a La Liga match at the Bernabeu on Sunday night. However, they will be without star player Vinicius Jr. who picked up too many yellow cards in their previous game against Osasuna. The absence of Vinicius is a blow to head coach Carlo Ancelotti, who expressed his disappointment at not having the talented winger available for the upcoming fixture. Ancelotti dismissed concerns about Vinicius’ off-field activities, including filming a Netflix documentary, stating that the main worry for him is the player’s unavailability.
On a positive note, Real Madrid will welcome back Jude Bellingham after the English midfielder served his suspension for a red card in a previous match against Valencia. Despite Athletic Club having the Copa del Rey decider to prepare for, Ancelotti is not underestimating their opponents and expects them to put up a tough fight. With FC Barcelona closing in on them in the league standings, Real Madrid cannot afford to drop points and will be looking to secure a victory against Athletic Club. Ancelotti believes that Athletic will be focused on earning points at the Bernabeu rather than thinking about the upcoming final.
In terms of team selection, Ancelotti confirmed that Eder Militao will make the squad list after recovering from an ACL tear earlier in the season. However, he will not rush the defender back into the starting lineup and Nacho will partner Antonio Rudiger in central defense. The full-back positions will be occupied by Dani Carvajal and Ferland Mendy, providing defensive support for goalkeeper Andriy Lunin. Aurelien Tchouameni will play as the pivot in midfield alongside Toni Kroos, with Bellingham and Fede Valverde playing in more advanced roles. The attacking duo for Real Madrid will consist of Brahim Diaz and Rodrygo.
Real Madrid’s starting XI against Athletic Club is confirmed as follows: Lunin; Mendy, Rudiger, Nacho, Carvajal; Tchouameni, Kroos, Bellingham, Valverde; Rodrygo, Brahim. With Vinicius Jr. unavailable for selection, the onus will be on the remaining players to step up and secure a positive result for Real Madrid. Ancelotti will be hoping that his team can maintain their lead at the top of the league table and fend off the challenge from their rivals. The match against Athletic Club is crucial for Real Madrid’s title aspirations and they will be aiming for nothing less than a win at the Bernabeu.
