Ancelotti Sticks To His Guns

Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti will stick to his guns when the defending La Liga champions take on Athletic Club in San Mames.

Los Blancos go into the tie at one of Spain’s toughest away grounds four points behind FC Barcelona.

One important thing to note, however, is that they have a game in hand over the Catalans.

This makes it important to keep on winning, as Madrid has in its last three domestic clashes, and then also come out on top against Valencia in a fixture postponed because of tragic flooding in the latter club’s region.

In the Basque region, Ancelotti said that he expects a “demanding, complicated game, as always” during a press conference where the penalty taking hierarchy was also discussed.

“We’re going to play in a great atmosphere, against a great rival. I think we’re in a good moment and we’ll try to give a good version of ourselves. Athletic is doing well, [playing] intensely, [as] one of the best in Spain,” the Italian explained.

With his squad beset by injuries, Ancelotti won’t make changes to the team that won 2-0 against Getafe at the Bernabeu on Sunday.

It entails Thibaut Courtois starting in goal, defended by a back line of Ferland Mendy, Toni Rudiger, Raul Asencio, and Lucas Vazquez from left to right.

Ancelotti admitted that he’s been “surprised” by Asencio’s level in addition to his “maturity” and “tranquility”.

“He’s never worried, nor afraid. It’s not a litmus test, he’s already passed the litmus test. He can be considered a player in our squad with all the merit because he deserves it,” Ancelotti added.

In central midfield, Dani Ceballos keeps his place as a pivot despite a return from a knock by Aurelien Tchouameni.

“Ceballos has done it as Asencio has done it. He’s shown his quality, with a good attitude, [and is] a different player from the other midfielders. [He has] more [ball] handling, control, less energy.

“He has a lot of personality, he’s not worried about touching the ball and he’s contributing a lot in this sense,” Ancelotti said about the former Arsenal star, who has been linked with a move away from the club either in January or next summer.

Jude Bellingham and Fede Valverde are in front of Ceballos, while the attacking line sees Kylian Mbappe on his preferred left wing, Brahim Diaz on the right, and Rodrygo operating as a central target man.

Real Madrid Starting XI Vs. Athletic Club: Courteous; Mendy, Rudiger, Raul, Vazquez; Ceballos, Bellingham, Valverde; Mbappe, Rodrygo, Brahim