Ancelotti has two major doubts for Real Madrid’s starting lineup vs Barcelona | OneFootball

Real Madrid have not fared well against Barcelona in their two meetings this season and have been hammered on both occasions.

With the Clasico this weekend bringing a direct trophy to the hands of the winner, Los Blancos will be motivated to turn that streak around and it will undoubtedly require some tactical changes.

Carlo Ancelotti, thus, is faced with a serious dilemma of how to line up his troops at the weekend. AS provides an update on how far he has come in solving that puzzle.

Nine certainties, two doubts

As relayed by the Spanish outlet, nine players have their place in the starting lineup written in stone for the final of the Copa del Rey.

Thibaut Courtois, Raul Asencio, Antonio Rudiger, Fran Garcia, Aurelien Tchouameni, Jude Bellingham, Federico Valverde, Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr. will all start against Barcelona.

Major decisions to make. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)

The two positions left vacant, meanwhile, will be contested by four players, Luka Modric, Dani Ceballos, Lucas Vazquez and Rodrygo.

The first decision that Ancelotti will have to take ahead of the big game is whom to deploy at right-back, especially with the threat of Raphinha looming.

Lucas Vazquez has not done enough in the previous Clasicos to warrant a guaranteed place, and Federico Valverde’s stability in the department may make him a better choice. That manoeuvre, however, will compromise Real Madrid’s midfield stability.

The second big decision is whether to deploy a 4-4-2 setup or a 4-3-3 setup, and it is Rodrygo’s inclusion or exclusion that will decide the formation.

Should Ancelotti opt for a 4-4-2, he could play Modric or Ceballos as the third midfielder, possibly even both of Valverde’s starts at right-back. If 4-3-3 is the call, neither midfielder will join the lineup as Rodrygo will take the final spot.