Madrid's Ancelotti Unveils Real Madrid's Starting XI versus Sevilla, Fulfilling One Prominent Player's Desire
Madrid's Ancelotti Unveils Real Madrid's Starting XI versus Sevilla, Fulfilling One Prominent Player's Desire
Carlo Ancelotti, the Real Madrid manager, is planning some adjustments to his offensive strategy when they host Sevilla at the Bernabeu on December 25 in Spain.
Vinicius Jr., due to suspension, will miss the La Liga encounter, marking Real Madrid's last game of 2025.
As reported by various sources such as AS, Vinicius has been granted an early vacation to Miami and is expected to return to Madrid on December 30. He will be available for the critical clash against Valencia on January 3.
This particular match is significant for Madrid, as they currently hold an advantage over FC Barcelona, who lost 2-1 to Atletico Madrid on Saturday. A poor showing could see Barcelona trail Madrid by up to six points in the title race.
With Vinicius unavailable, Kylian Mbappe could potentially occupy his preferred left-wing position. Rodrygo may take the central striker role, and Brahim could feature on the right side of the offensive lineup.
In midfield, Eduardo Camavinga is anticipated to serve as the central pivot behind Jude Bellingham and Fede Valverde. Regrettably, Luka Modric seems to be missing out on this particular squad selection.
Raul Asencio, a standout player in the 2024/2025 season, once again finds himself on the sidelines. Aurelien Tchouameni will start as the defensive midfielder, partnering with Toni Rudiger in the heart of the defense.
Fran Garcia and Lucas Vazquez will occupy the left and right back positions, helping to safeguard Thibaut Courtois' net.
During the pre-match press conference to discuss this contest, Ancelotti expressed his enthusiasm for playing in front of their home fans following several away games, including winning the Intercontinental Cup final against Pachuca in Lusail, Qatar on December 22.
"We're heading back to the Bernabeu after having played many away games… And to finish the year here, with our fans, is truly exhilarating. We want to end 2024 positively. Sevilla is an opponent that is performing admirably in every match, but our objective is clear: to finish this year with a victory," Ancelotti noted.
Real Madrid vs. Sevilla Starting XI: Courtois; Fran Garcia, Rudiger, Tchouameni, Lucas Vazquez; Camavinga, Bellingham, Valverde; Mbappe, Rodrygo, Brahim
Despite Vinicius Jr.'s absence due to suspension, Real Madrid fans can still look forward to seeing Kylian Mbappe occupy his preferred left-wing position in their La Liga clash against Sevilla on December 25. Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid's victory over FC Barcelona on Saturday has put extra pressure on Real Madrid, as a poor performance could see Barca trail Madrid by up to six points in the title race. In midfield, Jude Bellingham is expected to partner with Fede Valverde, with Eduardo Camavinga serving as the central pivot.