Elche Vs Real Madrid: The Starting 11

The upcoming match is against Elche away from home in the La liga match day 16. The last Real Madrid game was against Granada which was great result after a good second half display.

The team rating for the match against Granada can be found here: Team Rating

This is one of the important league matches of the season as there is no room at the top. Real have no option but to win this fixture. 

Last year this fixture was not played. They have been win less in the last 8 games, 5 draws and 3 losses.

Looking at the

Injury list:

1. Modric
2. Rodrygo

Suspended:

1. None

Just recovered:

1. Hazard
2. Mariano
3. Jovic

Practiced:

The rest of the players are available for selection. 

Skipped Practice:

• None

Coach Comments:

• They pressed us well, it was a tough match, especially the first half, but in the second we came out better. I’m happy for the 6th win in a row, it’s not easy.

Other Comments:

• Modric might be available but due to recovery he might be rested.

Squad Updates:

This will be the Twenty second game of the season and Real have been inconsistent in their performances, they have 13 wins, 3 Draws and 5 losses. And in the last few of games the performance levels have improved but in the last two games even after taking the lead they were under a lot of pressure and lost ball too easily. Goal scoring is still not sharp and the team wasted several chances to kill the game off. 

Elche has a good attack as well as a good defense. So, Real will need to be sharper in the attack and careful defensively. Though they have just won 1 home game of the 7 played, it will be a bit complicated.

In the goal Courtois will start, he has been in good form now and his poor form is in the past now. He has shown signs of improvement in the last few games, which is good for the team. Though he had a clean sheet it was not very clean a performance.

Mendy will start on the left. Ramos and Varane will start as the center backs. And Carvajal will start on the right. So Mendy, Ramos, Varane and Carvajal should start. Defense has been in fine form for last few games but Varane seemed to lack confidence in last couple of games and was indecisive on several occasions. The unit needs to be well coordinated against the attack.

Modric has been amazing but due to injury he will be out. Real has been more creative and controlling well in the midfield even without Modric. As Casemiro is back, Valverde, Casemiro and Kroos should start again. Modric, Ødegaard and Isco will start from the bench.

The forwards have been better in the last few games but they have still been letting go of chances in front of the goal. Hazard may be available on the bench, but without match fitness Vinicius should start on the left as Rodrygo seems to be out for 2 months at the least, Benzema upfront and Lucas Vazquez on the right. So, Hazard, Jovic and Asensio should start from the bench.

As there are 5 substitutions available, ZZ should think for more rotations in the second half especially taking into consideration that the team's fitness.

The probable substitutions will be: 

Vinicius > Hazard

Valverde > Ødegaard/Modric

Kroos > Isco

Mendy > Marcelo

Lucas Vazquez > Asensio

Benzema > Jovic

So the formation would be 4 3 3.

The most probable kit to be used for the game will be the third kit!!!

So the final starting 11 will be: