Real Madrid Vs Levante: The Starting 11

The upcoming match is against Levante at home in the  Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium in the La Liga match day 21. The last Real Madrid game was against Alaves which was a redemption game after a few shameful results. 

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

Now on all games are like do or die as there is already a huge gap at the top. Real have no option but to win this fixture at any cost. 

Last year this fixture was a narrow 3-2 Win and we have already won at Levante this season 0-2.

Levante has won just 1 of 10 away games this season in the league. And they have a mid week game in the Copa del Rey, so they should have less time to recover.

Looking at the

Injury list:

1. Rodrygo
2. Nacho
3. Ramos
4. Valverde

Suspended:

1. None

Just recovered:

1. Carvajal
2. Varane

Practiced:

The rest of the players are available for selection. 

Skipped Practice:

• None

Coach Comments:

• Without Zidane in direct control Bettoni will be in charge.
  

Other Comments:

• Casemiro: We showed once again what we can do. This is the spirit with which we need to take on LaLiga.

Squad Updates:

This will be the Twenty eighth game of the season and Real have been too inconsistent in their performances, they have 15 wins, 5 Draws and 7 losses. In the last few matches the performance has dipped to the lowest of the season.  

Levante has been a tough opponent in the recent times, though they have won just 1 out of 10 games away they have been scoring 2 goals every match, lot of them ending in draws. Real will need to be careful defensively. In the attack they will expect to get chances and they should improve the efficiency to convert.

In the goal Courtois will start, he has been in a decent form. He has not been great but his performance has been fine. He has supported the defense really well.

Mendy should start on the left. Militao and Varane will start as the center backs in absence of Ramos and Nacho. But as Carvajal should be fit by this week's game he should start on the right. So Mendy, Militao, Varane and Carvajal should start. Defense has been in okay form but errors have led to goals in all the games where we have conceded. Without Marcelo the defense looks better. So, he should start on the bench and only come in the second half to provide any relief to Mendy, if we have a 2 goal cushion.

Modric has been amazing but is lacking support from the attack. He would start, and so should be Kroos. So, Kroos, Casemiro and Modric should start. Isco and few youth squad members should start from the bench. 

The forwards have been poor all season, they have been wasting several chances in front of the goal. With some improvements in the last game the forwards will look for continuity. Hazard should start on the left. Asensio should start on the Right and Benzema upfront. So, Vinicius, Lucas Vazquez and Mariano 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: 

Asensio > Lucas Vazquez

Modric > Blanco/Arribas

Kroos > Isco

Benzema > Mariano

Hazard > Vinicius

So the formation would be 4 3 3.

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

So the final starting 11 will be:

Odriozola comes for Carvajal

Levante Vs Real Madrid: The Starting 11

   

The upcoming match is against Levante is away from in the La liga match day 5. Real Madrid will play their third away match of the season. The last Real Madrid game in the league against Valladolid was a lucky win , after several misses winning 1-0 was very much welcome. 

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

Last year this fixture was a 1-0 loss.

Looking at the

Injury list:

1. Mariano
2. Kroos
3. Hazard
4. Militao
5. Carvajal
6. Odriozol

Suspended:

1. None

Just recovered:

1. Asensio
2. Lucas Vazquez

Practiced:

The rest of the players are available for selection. 

Skipped Practice:

• B Mayoral

Coach Comments:

• Anything can happen till 5th Oct

Other Comments:

• With no regular right back option available junior squad members are also possible to be included.

Squad Updates:

This will be the fourth game of the season and Real have been mis-firing in the previous games, this game is very important. Madrid needs to win this at any cost to get the confidence back for the low scoring forwards.

Levante has a good attack and their counters are solid. So, Real will have to be extra careful.

In the goal Courtois will start, he has been in a good form in the last few games and needs to keep the same going.

Marcelo is injured, Mendy was solid last game and should get the nod this time again. Ramos and Varane will start as the center backs, there is no doubt in it. Carvajal and Odriozola both suffered injuries and now Nacho should be the favorite to start on the right. So Mendy, Varane, Ramos and Nacho should start. Defence was good except for some switching off leading to the goals scoring chances in the last game. So, the defence will have to be very careful especially against a fast counter attack of Levante.

Modric was really good in the last game, and controlled the game after coming off the bench but might be rested and should start from the bench. Valverde put a great performance and Kroos was subbed due to injury. So it is going to be Ødegaard, Casemiro and Valverde in the middle. Casemiro will be needed to stuff  up the Levante counters, especially with a make-shift defence. And Valverde will be required to support the attack on the flank.

The forwards have recovered from injuries except for Hazard. So, Asensio should start on the right. So, Vinicius is the only option on the left. Benzema will be the main striker. . So Vinicius, Benzema and Asensio should start, and Isco, Jovic, Rodrygo and Lucas Vazquez should be on the bench.

As there are 5 substitutions available, ZZ should think for more rotations in the second half.

The probable substitutions will be: 

Vinicius > Rodrygo

Ødegaard > Modric

Valverde > Isco

Asensio > Lucas Vazquez

Benzema > Jovic, seems very unlikely though

So the formation would be 4 3 3.

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

So the final starting 11 will be:

Levante vs Real Madrid: The Starting 11

The upcoming match is against Levante away from home in the La liga match day 25. Levante are 13th on the leader-board and Real are top of the league. After the lost chance of maintaining the 3 point gap against Celta and with just 1 point separating them and Barcelona, Madrid has to go full throttle and is not going to take any risks this time.

Overall form looks good away from home for Real 

Looking at the 

Injury list:

1. Asensio
2. Mariano

Only Asensio is injured. And he has not been practicing with the team. He has started individual workouts now. We hope his recovery is faster and soon he starts playing with the team.

Suspended:

1. None, Mendy has 4 yellows and has a risk of suspension.

Just recovered:

1. None

Practiced:

Asensio is on his recovery process. Mariano and James are not with the team. Others are practicing with the team.

Skipped Practice:

None

Coach Comments:

• Marcelo is not to be blamed for the defensive worries.

Other Comments:

• Marcelo might play again as Mendy needs to play the next game in La liga vs Barcelona and is on 4 yellow cards.

Squad Updates:

This is a crucial game for the La liga title race, with only 1 point separating the top two.

In the goal Courtois will start, he was not great last game but he did not get any support from the defence, and was left open due to lapses. Though he had several good games in the past, things look definitely positive for Courtois and Real Madrid. 

Ramos and Varane will start as the center backs. Marcelo will start on the left and will provide rest to Mendy and option to be available for the el clasico and Carvajal will start on the right. So Marcelo, Ramos, Varane and Carvajal should start. Defence has been in good form but occasional switching off has led to several goals and from now on they will try to avoid any errors leading to such goals.

All the five mid-fielders are available but it's been a poor outing in the past few games in terms of controlling the game. It is a very difficult decision for ZZ whom to pick. One game Isco was great and Kroos was rested, now against Celta Kroos scored and Isco was rested and Modric played few unproductive minutes, there has been lack of any consistency. But taking the past game's rigor and current fitness level into considerations it is going to be Modric, Casemiro and Isco in the middle. Kroos and Valverde will be on the bench and should be seen as options vs Manchester City.

As Asensio has been injured and Hazard has now recovered, Hazard will start on the left. After having several blanks for Benzema, he will have to start and start firing soon. Hazard, Benzema, and Lucas Vazquez will start. And Vinicius and James should be on the bench. 

So the formation would be 4 3 3, with Lucas Vazquez and Hazard on the wings behind Benzema.

So the final starting 11 will be:

Real Madrid Vs Levante: The Starting 11 Post Match

I Suggested the following starting 11:

Zidane had slightly different plan. He made just one change

Started Vinicius instead of Hazard on the left.

All other changes were during the match and were 

Casemiro was replaced by Hazard (Casemiro was tired and had a long flight and jet lag) and this meant James had to drop to the centre deeper.

Ramos with slight discomfort went out and Militao replaced him (Like for Like, and a cautionary substitution looking ahead into the next matches)

Benzema was replaced by Jovic (Again another Like for like change) and giving some more for the new and recovered player to get adapted to the new side, at the same time give some rest for Benzema.

If we analyze Real are still loose in the back and the defenders are not consolidating their usual authority. With Casemiro it is slightly stronger than with any other holding mid-fielder replacing him. 

Final comment for the team after the match is 

Finishing: 5⭐ (11 out of 25 shots on target, 4 offsides)

Creativity and control: 8⭐ (65% Possession and 11 shots on target) 

Chances created: 9⭐( 9 corners vs 6 for Levante, 11 shots on target vs 3 shots for Levante)

Passing: 9⭐(90% accuracy)
No Loose Balls: 3⭐ ( Several ball losses and easy corner leading to goal)
Defensive Coordination: 4⭐( 2 goals due to defensive lapses and 6 corners)
Goal Keeping: 6⭐ (90+2 minute save, otherwise ordinary)
Over all: 6⭐ (Not bad but 45 minutes of good football and 45 minutes of poor work)

A lot to improve on finishing and defensive coordination.

Real Madrid Vs Levante: The Starting 11

Real Madrid Vs Levante: The Starting 11 on 14th Sep 2019

From now on I will try to post the probable 11 for Real Madrid that will start in each match.

The upcoming match is against the Levante, who are currently positioned 4th and have won last two matches in La Liga.

First I would like to see the injury list:

1. Isco
2. Modric
3. Asensio
4. Valverde

Suspended:

1. Bale (Red card)

Just recovered:

1. Jovic 
2. James
3. Hazard
4. Brahim Diaz
5. Rodrygo

Practiced:

All except the injured lot, Casemiro, Militao and Vinicius had just one practice session.

Skipped Practice:

None

Coach Comments:

1. Hazard to play but need to be careful
2. Vinicius has his confidence, but need to mature

So the line up seems Hazard to start but will play for 60 mins or so, and will be replaced by Vinicius.

With Bale not available the right wing should be owned by Vinicius, but as there are other injury worries Vinicius will only be used as a substitute and Lucas Vazquez will start in the right. With James starting in the middle behind Benzema, and moving right on occasions.

With this inputs I see the Zidane favorites to start, No Mendy,  Odriozola, Nacho, Militao, Mariano or Areola unless any injuries or sending off.

The final starting 11 should be:

And the subs should be: Vinicius, Brahim and Jovic

If Real go 2,3 goals up then Kroos will be subbed by an additional defender and Mariano might come in as well.