Real Madrid were able to stay in the Champions League semifinal with the hope of a second-leg Remontada intact, as they only lost 4-3 to Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium in the first leg.
With mounting injuries and fitness concerns, Los Merengues are expected to rotate heavily this Saturday afternoon when they face Espanyol at the Santiago Bernabeu before hosting City in the second leg next week on Wednesday night at the Bernabeu.
While Real Madrid need to recover, they won’t want to underestimate an Espanyol side that defeated them 2-1 earlier this season. But after Barcelona’s loss to Rayo Vallecano this weekend, Real are set to secure the LaLiga title.
Here is a starting lineup prediction for Los Blancos on Saturday afternoon vs. Espanyol at the Santiago Bernabeu in LaLiga.
GK Andriy Lunin
Thibaut Courtois has never rested in LaLiga this season, but it may be time for Andriy Lunin to finally get an opportunity in goal in the Spanish top flight. Lunin has acquitted himself well this season when called into action, operating in the Copa del Rey. This will be a big opportunity for him, but Madridistas have faith he can perform at a high level.
LB Marcelo
After being the team’s biggest liability these past two seasons, Marcelo has quietly turned things around in 2021/22. Perhaps we need to give Antonio Pintus a great deal of credit here in helping Marcelo carve out a role as a productive backup at left back. Ferland Mendy has been dealing with injury issues this season, so it is best for him to get the rest he needs before facing Riyad Mahrez in the second leg.
CB Rafa Marin
Real Madrid fans have been itching to see Rafa Marin – one of the club’s several highly impressive defensive prospects – get a chance at center back in the first team. Marin will finally get his time to shine this weekend against Espanyol, and he will be going up against a talented front three spearheaded by one of the best strikers in LaLiga, former Madridista Raul de Tomas. In Castilla, Marin is incredible, both on the ball and defensively. He will be watched closely by Madridistas.
CB Jesus Vallejo
At this point, Jesus Vallejo is auditioning for other clubs as a summer transfer. Antonio Rudiger is on his way to Madrid, and Vallejo has no place in the squad. Marin will take his place as a backup to the backups. Vallejo was once a top prospect in his own right and had a great run with Eintracht Frankfurt on loan, but he has fallen off the map in recent years. This is his last hurrah, so to speak.
RB Lucas Vazquez
Dani Carvajal had a couple of rough moments against Manchester City in the first leg, so rest is imperative for the oft-injured veteran. Lucas Vazquez is someone Carlo Ancelotti and Real Madrid can trust in this game against Espanyol.
CM Isco
Isco had some fantastic moments against Osasuna. Really, he has been an asset all season long in a backup role, whether in the Copa del Rey or LaLiga. This will be Isco’s last season with Real Madrid, and while you could say that he never fulfilled his potential as a top, top player, there is no doubt that he has left a positive impression on the world’s biggest club. Isco can have a positive run of games before signing with a club like Real Betis, Sevilla, or Milan in the summer 2022 window. Expect him to be one of the top performers against Espanyol this weekend.
DM Eduardo Camavinga
In truth, Eduardo Camavinga should have started against Manchester City in the first leg, and he should have a significant role to play in the second leg, having seen what he is capable of doing in the second half of big Champions League games. With Casemiro still working hard to return from an injury that proved devastating to Madrid in the first leg, Camavinga is the only person Carletto can trust in the No. 6 role this weekend.
Toni Kroos and Luka Modric both need rest – especially Kroos. And Fede Valverde could use a breather or would be better-suited in a role on the right side of the formation. Camavinga has been good in a defensive midfield role and should be good enough for this game.
CM Dani Ceballos
It took 33 Matchdays for Dani Ceballos to truly make his mark, but after several encouraging displays off the bench, the former Real Betis man was one of the best players on the pitch in a 3-1 win over Osasuna last week. Ceballos followed that up with a positive cameo off the bench at the Etihad, and there are rumblings that he could be a part of the picture in 2022/23 – provided he is OK with being a backup in Madrid.
Ceballos will get another opportunity to shine against Espanyol. Like Isco, don’t be surprised if the attack-minded, technically-excellent Spanish midfielder has a big game. He is in full confidence and is determined to prove himself to the world in every single match.
LW Rodrygo Goes
I could see Rodrygo Goes getting rest as well, but it makes more sense for Real Madrid to play things safe with Vinicius Jr. and let Rodrygo get some minutes on the left. It is his preferred position, and he played there in Madrid’s last LaLiga fixture, standing out as the best player on the pitch in Pamplona. It was the third of three consecutive top-class performances from the Brazilian winger, who could use another confidence-boosting performance this weekend against Espanyol after he found City challenging.
Rodrygo has the potential to become one of the best forwards in Europe, and we have seen some truly spectacular displays from him in the Champions League. Hopefully, he can add another positive effort to his season tally vs. Espanyol, which would go a long way in enabling the young man to show consistency.
CF Gareth Bale
Gareth Bale has been seemingly preferred to both Luka Jovic and Mariano Diaz in the backup striker role to Karim Benzema, based on Carlo Ancelotti’s substitution patterns over the past couple of months. Though Bale is not a striker, it makes sense for Carletto to trust such an iconic player with his track record, in addition to their experiences together. Meanwhile, Jovic and Mariano are both players Los Blancos want to offload.
Want your voice heard? Join the The Real Champs team!
RW Marco Asensio
Starting Marco Asensio is not everyone’s favorite decision, but Carletto will likely go in this direction. He has wisely realized that Asensio is not a starting-caliber player, as he leaves a lot to be desired with his lack of intensity in big matches – both offensively and defensively. But Asensio is good against mid-to-lower LaLiga sides, coming up with important late goals from out of nowhere.
Asensio cannot be cast aside. A quality super-sub, the Andalusian will likely get a chance to add another goal to his tally on Saturday afternoon at the Bernabeu.