Real Madrid Predicted XI For El Derbi Madrileno

Real Madrid prepare to take on Atletico Madrid for the third time this season (fourth if you include the preseason friendly) with both other official matches ending 0-0 after full time.

Los Blancos will need a win this time around if they want to keep their three-point advantage at the top of La Liga and therefore Zinedine Zidane will not be able to play it too safe on Saturday evening against an Atletico side that seem to have hit a new low in recent weeks.

Real Madrid Predicted Starting XI:

Goalkeeper –

There is no debating the goalkeeping position as Thibaut Courtois will be the man at the back with Alphonse Areola being strictly chosen for the cup matches. The Belgian has been able to keep up his incredible form and will want to get yet another clean sheet against his former club. Courtois has reached heights that many of us didn’t expect from him earlier in the season and now he has become an integral part to Real Madrid’s recent successes.

Defenders –

During the Copa del Rey match against Real Zaragoza, Zidane decided to use three out of his four starting defenders while Eder Militao wasn’t called up for the match. That does make things a little confusing as to what he has in mind for the derby but the best assumption is that the manager won’t be taking any chances.

Dani Carvajal will be on the right as he’s now the only natural right-back the team has while Raphael Varane will be partnering up with the captain Sergio Ramos in the center. As for the left-back, it’s pretty clear that Ferland Mendy is the starter under Zidane at the moment and he will be there after being rested in the midweek cup match.

Midfielders – 

Finally, Zidane made some changes by giving Carlos Casemiro a rest against Real Zaragoza with the Brazilian expected to return to the lineup on Saturday. Casemiro has been in lethal form so far this season and has shown incredible growth to become the first name on the team sheet this year.

In front of him, we will predictably see a midfield of Toni Kroos and Federico Valverde as they aim to stop the attacks from Atletico Madrid early while being able to completely control the center of the pitch. It’s hard to see a better option to that midfield but with Luka Modric being rested against Real Zaragoza, we might see him get the nod ahead of Kroos or Valverde on the night.

Forwards – 

I think it’s safe to say that all of us were hoping Eden Hazard would be back in time for this game but it doesn’t look likely. Even if he’s fit enough to play, he definitely won’t be fit enough to start.

Therefore, we’ll probably see Rodrygo Goes take up the right flank while Zidane’s favorite Isco could be the man chosen on the left. Up ahead, we’ll see Karim Benzema who finally ended his minor goal drought after scoring in the midweek cup match.