Real Madrid will lock horns with Real Valladolid at the José Zorrilla Stadium on Wednesday night hoping to pick up maximum points on the road. Los Blancos managed to grab a hard-fought 3-2 win over Real Betis last weekend which will give them a confidence boost heading into this midweek showdown versus Sergio’s men.
The Madrid giants will set themselves up in a 4-4-2 (diamond) formation with Isco and Vinicius Junior expected to be a part of Zinedine Zidane’s frontline.
Defence
Thibaut Courtois will lineup in goal for Los Blancos after shipping in two goals in La Liga last weekend. Sergio Ramos will resume his centre-half partnership with Raphael Varane as they look to maintain a solid shape in defence and restrict the opposition from scoring in midweek.
Dani Carvajal will get the nod to operate at right-back while Ferland Mendy continues to play on the other side as the left-back. Zidane will ask both his full-backs to get forward and make some driving runs out on the flanks so that they can create some attractive opportunities for the front players.
Marcelo was out with a back problem in the last gameweek, so he is doubtful for this upcoming clash on Wednesday.
Midfield
Zidane might opt to play a diamond in midfield with Casemiro assuming his duties as the holding midfielder while Luka Modric and Federico Valverde play in a more advanced role at the centre of the park. Isco will function in the number ten position as an attacking midfielder, so we can expect him to carry most of the creative burden in the final third.
Toni Kroos is a significant doubt for this game after he picked up a muscle injury, so Zidane might not risk playing him away at Valladolid later this week.
Attack
Vinicius Junior could get a chance to impress alongside Karim Benzema up top. Both strikers will be hungry for goals when they lace up to face off against the Real Valladolid defenders on Wednesday night.
Luka Jovic will drop to the bench following another lacklustre display from him versus Real Betis last weekend. He could come on to influence the game in the second half if required.