How Real Madrid could line up against Atletico Madrid

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti will be without four players for Thursday's Madrid derby against rivals Atletico Madrid in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey.

Aurelien Tchouameni (calf), Dani Carvajal (muscle), Eden Hazard and Lucas Vazquez (both ankle) all missed Los Blancos' 2-0 win over Athletic Bilbao in La Liga on Sunday and will remain sidelined for the battle with Atletico at the Santiago Bernabeu.

However, Real Madrid have been boosted by the return of defender David Alaba, who has recovered from a calf problem, with Ancelotti confirming that the Austrian "will play" on Thursday.

Alaba's inclusion in the starting lineup will likely see centre-back Eder Militao drop out of the side, while Ancelotti has also revealed that Nacho Fernandez will continue at right-back in the absence of Carvajal and Vazquez.

Eduardo Camavinga is expected to continue in the deep-lying midfield role while Tchouameni recovers from injury, and the young Frenchman is set to be joined in the middle of the pitch by experienced duo Luka Modric and Toni Kroos, who both began on the substitutes' bench against Bilbao.

Federico Valverde, who started in midfield last time out, could therefore move up to operate on the right flank at the expense of Marco Asensio, joining Vinicius Junior and Karim Benzema in attack.

Academy graduates Sergio Arribas and Mario Martin have both been included in Real Madrid's matchday squad, and the youngsters are set to be joined on the substitutes' bench by the likes of Rodrygo, Mariano Diaz, Jesus Vallejo and Alvaro Odriozola.

Real Madrid possible starting lineup: Courtois; Nacho, Rudiger, Alaba, Mendy; Modric, Camavinga, Kroos; Valverde, Benzema, Vinicius Jr