How Real Madrid could line up against Celta Vigo

By Matt Law | 08 Mar 2024 20:20, Last updated: 04 Jun 2025 23:44

Real Madrid will be without the services of four first-team players for Sunday's La Liga clash with Celta Vigo.

Thibaut Courtois, Eder Militao and David Alaba remain unavailable due to ACL injuries, and the latter will not play again for the Spanish giants until the 2024-25 campaign.

Both Courtois and Militao are on course to feature before the end of April, though, with Real Madrid set to be boosted by the returns of two hugely important players at a key stage of the season.

Jude Bellingham will also be absent this weekend due to the red card that he was handed in the latter stages of the 2-2 draw with Valencia last time out; an appeal from Real Madrid has been unsuccessful, and the England international is now set to miss the team's next two league games.

Head coach Carlo Ancelotti is expected to make changes to the side that started the 1-1 draw with RB Leipzig in the second leg of their last-16 Champions League clash on Wednesday night.

Rodrygo, Luka Modric and Brahim Diaz could potentially be introduced, with Los Blancos switching back to a 4-3-3 formation due to Bellingham's absence.

Aurelien Tchouameni could drop back into the middle of the defence alongside Antonio Rudiger, which would allow both Modric and Toni Kroos to feature in midfield.

Federico Valverde played further forward against Leipzig but is set to return to a deeper area for this match, while Eduardo Camavinga may start on the bench.

Real Madrid possible starting lineup: Lunin; Carvajal, Rudiger, Tchouameni, Mendy; Valverde, Modric, Kroos; Diaz, Rodrygo, Vinicius