Same rival, different face

For the League, the gala eleven. Ancelotti makes seven changes to his starting eleven against Elche compared to the initial team he had just three days ago, against the same rival, in the Cup. Only Lucas Vázquez, Alaba, Kroos and Vinicius repeat. As the coach already advanced in the press conference on Saturday, Hazard is the starter accompanying Vinicius and Benzema on the right flank in the attack. The victim for the entry of the Belgian in the eleven is Rodrygo.

La Liga Santander

*Data updated as of January 23, 2022

With the return of the League, the Italian coach recovers the team that, except for the two positions on the right wing, is fixed game after game. In addition to the (almost) always nine and Hazard, Lucas Vázquez occupies one more game on the right side of the defense. Carvajal continues convalescing after testing positive for coronavirus.

Regarding the rest of the changes, Courtois and Benzema, who did not even travel to Elche for the cup match, come in for Lunin and Jovic. Casemiro and Modric once again form a trident in midfield alongside Kroos to the detriment of Camavinga and Valverde. Y Militao, who served a penalty in the Cup for the red he saw in the Super Cup final, is once again Alaba’s partner in the axis of defense. Nacho was his substitute in Elche.

The complete eleven that Carlo Ancelotti has to start against Elche is made up of: Courtois; Lucas Vázquez, Militao, Alaba, Mendy; Modric, Casemiro, Kroos; Hazard, Benzema and Vinicius. The Madrid coach called up 22 players for the match, so he will have 11 players on the bench ready to take the field: Lunin, Toni Fuidias, Nacho, Marcelo, Camavinga, Valverde, Ceballos, Isco, Rodrygo, Bale and Jovic.

In addition to the aforementioned absence of Carvajal, Vallejo, Asensio and Mariano are also absent due to injury. Vinicius is warned and if he sees the yellow card he will miss the match on February 6 (9:00 p.m.) against Granada at the Bernabéu.