Zinedine Zidane will display an unusual starting eleven to face Eibar in La Liga on Saturday. Real Madrid will play a crucial match against Wolfsburg on Tuesday and the French manager has decided to rest some of his key players.
Zizou has left Keylor Navas, Luka Modric and Karim Benzema out of the squad. The France international picked up a knob in the first leg match against the Germans, and although he’s not injured, Zidane doesn’t want to risk him. Jese Rodriguez will most likely replace the striker.
Meanwhile, Modric could be replaced by his country-man Mateo Kovacic, who has had very few chances to play lately. Casemiro and Toni Kroos are expected to remain in the starting lineup.
In defence, Zidane will miss injured Raphael Varane and suspended Sergio Ramos. Thus, Nacho Fernandez will start at centre-back alongside Pepe. Alvaro Arbelo could come in at left-back to give Marcelo some rest. And the main doubt is whether the coach will lineup Daniel Carvajal or Danilo at right-back.
Kiko Casilla will be the starting goalkeeper this time, with Navas resting for the Champions League match on Tuesday.
This is Real Madrid’s projected starting eleven: Casilla; Danilo, Pepe, Nacho Fernandez, Arbeloa; Kovacic, Casemiro, Kroos; Jese Rodriguez, Ronaldo, Bale.
This is Eibar’s projected starting eleven: Riesgo; Capa, Pantic, Ramis, Junca; Keko, Escalante, Garcia, Adrian Gonzalez; Peleteiro, Baston.
