Ancelotti pulls another ‘9’ out of his sleeve

Ancelotti is looking for a substitute for Benzema. As I did in the Cup in San Mamés, The Italian coach once again dispenses with Jovic in the starting eleven despite the absence of the French striker. If in the KO tournament he bet on Asensio as ‘9’, this time he entrusts that mission to Isco, who already served at the top in the cup tie against Elche, substituting for Jovic himself. The man from Malaga had not been a starter in any competition since the match against Betis on the third day of the League, more than five months ago (August 28).

Despite the opportunities offered by the absences of Karim and Vinicius (the Brazilian is serving a penalty for a yellow cycle), the white coach once again dispenses with both Jovic and Hazard and Bale, the three players of the current squad whose signing was more expensive for the white coffers.

Carletto resolves the last-minute casualties of Casemiro and Lucas Vázquez, who dropped out of the call this morning due to gastroenteritis, with the entry of Camavinga in the center of the field and Carvajal and Asensio on the right flank. The Leganés side aspired to ownership once recovered from the coronavirus and the Balearic, who played as 9 in San Mamés, it will be on the far right. Rodrygo will be on the left of the attack.

To his back, Marcelo occupies the left side of the defense in the absence of Mendy. The captain could not play in Bilbao because he was suspended in the Cup and his return recomposes the pair of central defenders Militao-Alaba, after the Austrian had to move to the band in the last game.

Ancelotti’s starting line-up for the match against Granada is made up of: Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Alaba, Marcelo; Modric, Camavinga, Kroos; Asensio, Isco and Rodrygo. After the setbacks of Casemiro and Lucas Vázquez, the Madrid coach is left with ten substitutes on the bench: Lunin, Diego, Nacho, Vallejo, Valverde, Ceballos, Bale, Hazard, Jovic and Latasa.