An insight into the plans of Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti for the club’s upcoming showdown with city rivals Atlético has been forthcoming this evening.
The latest edition of the Madrid Derby is of course set to play out on Wednesday night, in the semi-finals of the Supercopa de España.
This will mark the first of three meetings between the capital heavyweights over the coming weeks, after they were also drawn against one another in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey.
Honing in on the first specifically, though, how does Carlo Ancelotti intend to set his side up, amid the long-standing personnel woes on the white half of the Madrid divide?
Well, as alluded to above, an insight into precisely that has today been provided.
The info comes courtesy of Relevo, who have revealed Real’s predicted starting XI for Wednesday’s Riyadh showdown.
The headline talking point comes between the posts, with Kepa Arrizabalaga in line to return, in place of Andriy Lunin.
Elsewhere, Nacho is expected to take his place in the heart of defence, Aurélien Tchouaméni will join Toni Kroos, Fede Valverde and Jude Bellingham in a star-studded midfield, and Vinícius Jr. will again link up with compatriot Rodrygo in attack.
Real Madrid predicted line-up:
Kepa; Carvajal, Rüdiger, Nacho, Fran García; Valverde, Tchouameni, Kroos, Bellingham; Rodrygo and Vinicius
Over on the Atléti side of things, meanwhile, Diego Simeone looks set to depend on the following XI, with a place in Sunday’s Super Cup showpiece against either Barcelona or Osasuna on the line.
Atlético Madrid predicted line-up:
Oblak; Nahuel Molina, Giménez, Witsel, Hermoso, Lino; Llorente, Koke, De Paul; Morata and Griezmann
Conor Laird | GSFN
