Ferland Mendy is set to make way for Marcelo while Eden Hazard will be in contention to feature when Real Madrid take on Huesca on Saturday.
Real Madrid will be hoping to build on their win over Barcelona last week when they play hosts to SD Huesca at the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium on Saturday afternoon. And, Zinedine Zidane does not have any fresh injury concerns to deal with ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
The likes Nacho, Dani Carvajal, Alvaro Odriozola and Martin Odegaard all remain unavailable. But, Eden Hazard has been included in the matchday squad once again and will be in contention to feature against Huesca.
?✅ Our 22-man squad for the match against @SDHuesca!#RealMadridHuesca | #HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/y3ORA2sbpY
— Real Madrid C.F. ???? (@realmadriden) October 30, 2020
Hazard’s fitness was one of the biggest talking points during Zidane’s pre-match press conference, and the Real Madrid boss iterated that the Belgian needs to be managed well. Zidane said, “He’s fine and we’re happy. He’s training well every day, he feels in good shape.”
“We have a lot of games and the idea is to have Hazard back with the group. We’ll see how we manage him, the important thing is that he’s feeling good. The key is to all be prepared because we have a lot of matches and a lot of minutes ahead.”
Hazard should ideally be continued to ease into a starting role, meaning he is expected to feature off the bench against Huesca. Therefore, Rodrygo Goes, Marco Asensio and Vinicius Jr. will be the players contesting to be the two wingers.
Vinicius was rather unimpressive in the UEFA Champions League group stage contest at Borussia Monchegladbach, meaning he could drop to the bench, with Rodrygo and Asensio getting the nod. As for the central striker, there is no looking past Karim Benzema, considering Luka Jovic’s poor form.
In midfield, Toni Kroos should continue to have his minutes managed, meaning Luka Modric will come into the side in his stead. Modric will provide company to Casemiro and Federico Valverde in the three-man midfield unit.
The big concern in defence is the right-back slot. Owing to the absence of Carvajal, Odriozola and Nacho, Zidane does not have a recognised right-back at his disposal. As a result, Lucas Vazquez has filled in on the right side of the Real Madrid defence, a role he should reprise against Huesca as well.
On the left flank, though, Marcelo should come in for Ferland Mendy, who is due a rest. Marcelo and Vazquez will flank Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane while Thibaut Courtois will take his place in the Real Madrid goal.
Real Madrid Predicted XI: Courtois; Vazquez, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo; Valverde, Casemiro, Modric; Asensio, Benzema, Rodrygo
