Real Madrid missing three players for clash with Elche

Real Madrid will be without the services of Thibaut Courtois, Dani Ceballos and Mariano Diaz for Wednesday's La Liga clash with bottom-of-the-table Elche.

Courtois will miss his sixth game in a row for Los Blancos, as he is not yet ready to return from the back problem that has kept him on the sidelines since the middle of September.

However, Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has said that the Belgium international should be available for the home game against Sevilla this weekend.

"He won't be back tomorrow. He has started training again and is doing quite well, so I think his return will be on Saturday against Sevilla," the Italian said during his press conference.

Andriy Lunin will therefore continue between the sticks against Elche, with Real Madrid looking to move six points clear of second-placed Barcelona at the top of the table.

© Reuters

Los Blancos will also again be without the services of Ceballos, who has been unavailable for selection since the start of October due to a hamstring problem.

Mariano has been ruled out of Wednesday's clash, meanwhile, having been forced to miss the training session on Tuesday due to a knock.

The 29-year-old has only played five minutes of La Liga football this season, and he could leave the Spanish and European champions on a free transfer at the end of the campaign.

Ancelotti is expected to make changes to the side that took to the field against Barcelona for El Clasico.

© Reuters

Karim Benzema, Federico Valverde and Rodrygo were on the scoresheet at Bernabeu last time out, with the champions recording a 3-1 victory over Xavi's side.

Rodrygo, Eduardo Camavinga and Antonio Rudiger are among those pushing to come into the starting side for this match, while Lucas Vazquez could feature at right-back.

Ancelotti's side have another four matches to come before the end of the month, also taking on Sevilla, RB Leipzig and Girona, while they will play another three times in the early stages of November before the season breaks for the World Cup.

Real Madrid squad vs. Elche:

Lunin, Lopez, Canizares; Carvajal, Militao, Alaba, Vallejo, Nacho, Odriozola, Vazquez, Rudiger, Mendy; Kroos, Modric, Camavinga, Valverde, Tchouameni; Hazard, Benzema, Asensio, Vinicius, Rodrygo