Ancelotti set to start 25-year-old Real Madrid star in cup final vs Barcelona | OneFootball

The final of the Copa del Rey is just around the corner and Real Madrid enter the game off the back of two narrow 1-0 wins in La Liga.

Los Blancos were lucky to get away with three points on both nights and will significantly have to step up if they are to win the cup final against their arch-rivals.

Ahead of the game, however, Carlo Ancelotti faces serious concerns in the left-back department.

The clash against Getafe, after all, came at a serious cost as both David Alaba and Eduardo Camavinga left the field injured at Coliseum Alfonso Perez.

While the latter is ruled out for the season, the former will surely be unavailable this weekend.

The starting left-back

As relayed in a recent report by MARCA, Fran Garcia is very likely to start the game against Barcelona at left-back. He is the leading option in the manager’s mind at the moment.

Set to start vs Barcelona. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)

After all, Ferland Mendy has been unavailable since the team’s return leg against Atletico Madrid through injury and is only now beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

He will make the squad list for El Clasico but is close to being ruled out as a starter.

The situations force Ancelotti to trust Garcia against Hansi Flick’s side, something he even confirmed in his recent press conference.

“Fran Garcia is the only option at left-back on Saturday in the final,” he said, as relayed by MARCA.

Given the team’s situation, a big part of Real Madrid’s chances in the final will depend on Garcia’s performance.

After all, the left-back will be the one tasked with controlling Lamine Yamal who has been largely uncontrollable even by Europe’s elite left-backs this season.