Real Madrid face Rayo Vallecano in LaLiga on Sunday, with three huge points on stake due to the nature of the league table this season. There is not a lot of breathing room or margin of error this season, as both Atletico Madrid and Barcelona are ahead of Los Blancos in the table.
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti is reportedly going to make some rotations, and it will be a tougher-than-usual task to predict his lineup. Here is my attempt anyway:
GK Thibaut Courtois
The best goalkeeper in the world needs to start in such an important game. Courtois has been amazing this season once again, and there is no reason for him to be benched, as Andriy Lunin continues to keep his place in Copa del Rey games.
RB Lucas Vazquez
Fede Valverde will definitely not play this game, and that gives Vazquez another chance to play as a right-back in a LaLiga game. Vazquez has been pretty underwhelming all season, but hopefully this would be a good game for the Spaniard.
CB Raul Asencio
Real Madrid's defensive revelation this season. Asencio has easily been the club's best centre-back in the last few months, and deserves his place in the lineup against Rayo Vallecano. He was impressive once again when he went up against Atletico Madrid, and his young age should let him start two straight games.
CB David Alaba
Alaba only returned to action after the turn of the year, and this is a good game to give Antonio Rudiger some much-needed rest. The German has clearly struggled physically, and the rest would do him some good as he gets ready for Atletico once again. Alaba is going to be important against Rayo, and a good game could do wonders for his confidence.
LB Fran Garcia
Ferland Mendy has kept his place in the starting XI for the last few games, but Garcia should return as left-back. It is clear that Ancelotti still prefers Mendy in big games, so he should give the Frenchman some rest before they travel to Wanda Metropolitano on Wednesday.
DM Eduardo Camavinga
Tchouameni has been in a good run of form recently. Combining that with Real Madrid's lack of options in the midfield could give Tchouameni another start as a midfielder, which he prefers. However, Ancelotti could play Eduardo Camavinga in his place in an attempt to help the Frenchman return to form. Some continuity could definitely help the 22-year-old.
CM Luka Modric
A brilliant performance after coming on against Atletico would warrant a starting XI spot for the aged superstar. Real Madrid do not have many options in this position right now, so Modric should start against Rayo.
AM Jude Bellingham
Finally. It feels good to write his name. It feels like Bellingham has not featured for Real Madrid in such a long time, and his name in the starting XI is going to be an absolute no-brainer for Ancelotti.
RW Brahim Diaz
Real Madrid's most recent derby hero will return to the wing and hope to put in another good performance for Real Madrid. Rodrygo could very well play there - especially as he scored against the club's city rivals as well - but Ancelotti could give him some rest before they return to Champions League action. Ancelotti could rest both of them and start Arda Guler instead, but that unfortunately won't happen.
ST Kylian Mbappe
Kylian Mbappe has not looked the best physically since his tooth extraction a week ago. Ancelotti would probably want him to play his way into peak fitness, which is why he would get the nod over an energized Endrick.
LW Vinicius Jr
Vinicius Jr has been in a poor run of form as of late, or so it seems, and Ancelotti would want to play him back into form, as he has done with so many players. Another no-brainer.