Eden Hazard is set to start for Real Madrid, while Eduardo Camavinga is likely to come in for Luka Modric when they face Cadiz in La Liga.
Real Madrid will hope to consolidate their position at the top of the 2021/22 La Liga table when they take on relegation-battlers Cadiz at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday night.
Heading into the game, Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has a few fresh roster issues to deal with. Luka Modric returned a suspected positive Covid test earlier in the week and had to self-isolate. Although he has since tested negative, he is unavailable for selection on Sunday. In addition to Modric, Rodrygo Goes, Marco Asensio, Marcelo, Gareth Bale, and Andriy Lunin have also tested positive and will miss out.
Real Madrid vs Cadiz Preview: Probable Lineups, Prediction, Tactics, Team News & Key Stats
Speaking of the situation in his pre-match presser, Ancelotti said: “After Modric we’ve had others, like Asensio, Rodrygo and Bale. But then all the tests came back negative and we’ve had time to prepare for the match. Modric has tested negative but has not trained. He’s a bit tired and he’s had a fever these days. He won’t play tomorrow.”
Dani Carvajal has been sidelined with a fresh injury setback while Mariano Diaz misses out, too. But, midfielder Dani Ceballos is fit again and has been included in the squad by the manager for the first time this season. Ancelotti will make a few enforced changes against Cadiz, but he is unlikely to rotate heavily.
Thibaut Courtois will hold on to his spot between the sticks for the hosts, while the centre-back pairing of David Alaba and Eder Militao should remain intact as well. With Carvajal ruled out, Lucas Vazquez is expected to step in at right-back for Los Blancos, although Nacho Fernandez is also an option. There is no looking past Ferland Mendy for the starting berth on the left.
Modric’s unavailability opens up a spot in the middle of the park, which is likely to be taken up by Eduardo Camavinga. Federico Valverde is expected to remain as an option from the bench. Toni Kroos and Casemiro should hold on to their spots in the remaining two slots in the middle of the park.
With no Rodrygo and Asensio, Eden Hazard is set to start on the right-wing, Ancelotti has confirmed. “He’ll start tomorrow, he’ll play a few minutes and he’ll be able to show what he can do. He’s not used to the right side and I have opted to give Asensio and Rodrygo opportunities. He has everything he needs to perform well in the second half of the season and be useful for us,” the Italian said.
The remaining two slots in the attacking trident will be occupied by the in-form duo of Vinicius Junior and Karim Benzema, with the latter now fully fit after having had to play just 45 minutes in the last game due to an injury.
Real Madrid Predicted XI: Courtois, Vazquez, Militao, Alaba, Camavinga, Casemiro, Kroos, Hazard, Benzema, Vinicius.
