Real Madrid will travel to Girona for a must-win game on Saturday.
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Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti will make tweaks to the formation on Saturday when his side travels to Girona for a must-win game in La Liga.
This means that compared to last time out, the Italian will drop Dani Ceballos from the line up.
Los Blancos are under pressure after big defeats to Liverpool and Athletic Club in the Champions League and La Liga respectively, and their manager believes that he’s being unfairly criticized.
“The team is not playing its best and, as always happens in football, the coach is the most responsible.
“Having said that, I think you’re giving me too much criticism. Maybe you’re tired of me. I’m not tired. Criticism is acceptable and I understand it. Sometimes it’s fuel,” he stated at a prematch press conference on Saturday.
With title race rival FC Barcelona capable of being as many as seven points clear by the time kick off comes round in Montilivi, though Madrid will have two games in hand, Ancelotti expects a “complicated” match in Catalonia.
“Girona is doing well. They are in the Champions League, and they compete very well. We have to take it as an opportunity,” insisted Ancelotti, who will shift his formation around for the occasion.
Whereas it was a 4-4-2 for the 2-1 defeat to Athletic Club in San Mames, Ancelotti will field a 4-3-1-2 against Michel’s men.
Despite their problems last time out, it is the same back line protecting Thibaut Courtois’ goal which means Fran Garcia, Antonio Rudiger, Raul Asencio and Lucas Vazquez all get nods.
Having a night to forget in the Basque region, Aurelien Tchouameni is dropped to make way for Luka Modric.
Jude Bellingham is in front Fede Valverde, Ceballos and the Croat in the heart of midfield, and the rejig means there is space for right winger Brahim Diaz to team up with a Kylian Mbappe that Ancelotti confesses is not at his best on the front line because Roodrygo had to be discarded.
Real Madrid Vs. Girona Starting XI: Courteous; Fran, Rudiger, Asensio, Vazquez; Modric, Ceballos, Valverde, Bellingham; Mbappe, Brahim
