Imanol Alguacil will have to get an eleven of circumstances against Real Madrid. Although it will be quite close to what could be a typical alignment of the Oriotarra coach on the txuri-urdin bench. But the confirmation of the dismissal of Igor Zubeldia complicates everything a little more.
The Azkotiarra midfielder finally suffers a “grade two sprain of the medial lateral ligament”, So this day will be a safe drop against the white team, and the next game against Elche will also be lost; meanwhile, it would be a doubt for the fourth weekday match against Valencia at the Reale Arena. So things, the coach oriotarra only has the option of Ander Guevara jumping into the ring in the midfield to take the place of Zubeldia.
The problem is that the Vitorian player has not played an official match for six months, before confinement. But Imanol has no other option, because Asier Illarramendi is also injured, while Martin Zubimendi, the pivot who broke through at the end of last season, is also out due to a blow he suffered with the U21 team.
Guevara will have to act as a support player in the engine room, with Mikel Merino at his side, and it seems that with Mikel Oyarzabal in front of them, acting as a hitch in the playmaker, occupying the gap of David Silva, who at first will wait for his opportunity from the bench having completed only four sessions with the group in Zubieta after starting training after overcoming the coronavirus. Everything indicates that Eibar will focus its position because it already has more physical base, after having been a substitute in Valladolid because it had just joined the group after recovering from Covid-19.
In that way Roberto Lopez, starter on the first day, would also stay on the bench. The greater experience of Oyarzabal can work in his favor, and thus Ander Barrenetxea can continue in the starting eleven on the left wing, who stood out with his impudence last day and won to continue in the eleven.
This idea that Imanol may have in mind, will be completed with the continuity of Cristian Portugués ‘Portu’ on the right wing of the realistic attack, and Alexander Isak as an offensive reference. It will be necessary to see if Willian José tests negative in the PCR test this Friday to see if he can be, at least, on the bench.
On the other hand, in defense there may also be news. In goal Alex Remiro will continue under the sticks, and in the rear Gorosabel has overcome some annoyances to stay on the right side. And except for surprise, Monreal should return to the left-back, if he recovers from his discomfort. In the center of the defense Aritz Elustondo, Le Normand and Diego Llorente play both positions of the defensive axis.