Real Madrid took a step back in LaLiga last weekend, dropping points with a 3-3 draw to Rayo Vallecano in a rogue road game that the Merengues could have easily lost.
After the Intercontinental Cup match against Pachuca in Qatar, Real Madrid travel back to the Spanish capital for a home game against one of their historic rivals, Sevilla, in LaLiga.
Sevilla have had another difficult domestic campaign, but they have improved recently on the strength of solid performances from Dodi Lukebakio and others, and they could give Real Madrid real problems on Sunday night.
Here is a predicted starting lineup for Real Madrid this weekend, as they look to prove they can win convincingly without Vinicius Junior in the starting lineup. Vini received a fifth yellow card for yelling at an official during his unsuccessful substitute appearance last weekend.
GK Thibaut Courtois
Thibaut Courtois gets an obvious start in goal, and something tells me he’ll have to make a few tough saves this weekend.
LB Fran Garcia
Real Madrid can’t go right with either option at left back, but, for now, it looks like Carlo Ancelotti will stick with Fran Garcia. Because even though he struggles a lot defensively, including against his former employers Rayo last weekend, he can at least create goals with a lovely delivery or two.
CB Antonio Rudiger
Fresh off making the FIFA Best XI of the 2023/24 season, Antonio Rudiger is the only sure-fire starter for Real Madrid in central defense right now. Rudiger is going up against a pretty light opponent offensively, though he’ll have to be more vigilant at defending transitions, especially with Lukebakio drifting inside into his area.
CB Aurelien Tchouameni
Carlo Ancelotti appears to be intent on sticking Aurelien Tchouameni back there in central defense, possibly because he wants the Frenchman to “quarterback” as the initial playmaker from the center back position.
In order to keep starting, Tchouameni has to start doing more actual defensive things like switching to help the right back, covering runners in the box, and staying awake in transitions to prevent free players from overwhelming Courtois’ box.
RB Lucas Vazquez
Lucas Vazquez is always the easy man to scapegoat at Real Madrid, but he draws the most difficult attacking assignments against left wingers and has to do it without an experienced right-sided center backs. Most of the criticisms of him are really criticisms of Real’s defensive squad and management’s planning.
CM Luka Modric
With the Christmas break on the horizon, the 39-year-old Luka Modric should be the slated starter on Sunday in midfield, and he wasn’t half bad against Rayo Vallecano despite not producing anything tangible of note.
Even at his age, Modric is still the hardest-working midfielder in the world, so adept at carrying possession into the final third and making defensive recoveries. By the way, he has three assists this season in just 805 LaLiga minutes.
CM Fede Valverde
Fede Valverde had the highlight of the night last weekend with an outrageous goal from range against Rayo Vallecano to help Real Madrid mount a comeback from down 2-0, and those types of swerving rockets from distance have become something of a trademark for the Uruguayan midfielder.
Although Fede isn’t on my shortlist of the top five LaLiga Player of the Season candidates, he’s certainly close on the list of honorable mentions and has been arguably the most consistent player on the team this season.
AM Jude Bellingham
Jude Bellingham was quietly great again on Saturday last week against Rayo Vallecano, scoring a brilliant header from under the noses of two defenders. His work off the ball was world-class, and he was a better center forward than Rodrygo Goes at times.
In the 10 role, Jude can do whatever Real Madrid ask of him, whether that is get into the box and score goals, create chances like a traditional playmaker, split wide to switch with a winger, or progress and defend doggedly like a classic midfielder. By the way, he’s scored in each of his last six league games.
LW Kylian Mbappe
After suffering a minor injury last week in the Champions League against Atalanta, Kylian Mbappe will be back this weekend against Sevilla, and with Vinicius Junior suspended, the Frenchman will be entrusted on the left wing in his favored position.
A couple of weeks ago, Carlo actually allowed Mbappe to play on the left wing and instead shifted the world’s best player, Vini Jr., into the center forward position to predictably underwhelming results.
The transition will be more natural for Rodrygo to make as a center forward, and this is a big spot for Mbappe, who played well before his injury against Atalanta and has been better than the mainstream punditry will have you think.
That said, Real Madrid expect more from Mbappe, and in his favorite position against one of LaLiga’s weaker teams this season, nothing less than a Man of the Match-caliber performance will get those around the capital to quiet down.
CF Rodrygo Goes
Rodrygo had to step up as the leader for Real Madrid with both Vinicius Jr. and Mbappe out of the starting lineup, and he ended up with a goal and an assist as the best overall player on the team.
As a center forward with Mbappe on his left, Rodrygo can be his usual, unselfish self, dropping off deeper and combining with Mbappe, who will be the Cristiano Ronaldo to Rodrygo’s Karim Benzema – or something of that nature, at least stylistically.
Real Madrid also have high expectations for Rodrygo, who often comes under fire with bloated criticism. But it is valid for Real to want more from Rodrygo in terms of goals and star power, so the Sevilla game will also be a test for him.
RW Arda Guler
Arda Guler had two assists on paper, but both were simple passes to goals outside the box by Fede and Rodrygo. The Turkish international has as much talent as any player on Real Madrid, including Vini Jr. and Mbappe, but it is going to take some time for him to be a starter Real can rely on.
Brahim Diaz may have more experience, production, and even trust from Ancelotti, but Guler should get the nod against Sevilla. He needs all the minutes he can get, and while Sevilla are tough opponents, Guler’s dynamism will give Real a level of bite they may end up needing with Vinicius unavailable.
Likely going up against Kike Salas at left back, Guler can have a great game. He just needs to get more involved and build a better connection with Rodrygo, actively pressing alongside Jude and Rodrygo while thinking more carefully about where he needs to be in order to leave passing lanes open for those two great creators.
The managing editor of The Trivela Effect, Kevin has 15 years of experience in digital media. He covered Real Madrid from 2019-2022 for The Real Champs as a site manager. You can contact him at the site’s official Twitter handle @TrivelaEffect or via the site’s official email thetrivelaeffect@gmail.com.