Ancelotti makes line-up changes

Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti is expected to make up to three squad changes when his side face Celta Vigo away in La Liga on Saturday evening.

Los Blancos return to club action after the international break, a week before the Clasico against arch-rivals FC Barcelona, ​​who they are currently three points behind at the top of the table.

Some are of the opinion that the reigning Spanish and European champions have not had the best start to the 2024/2025 season, yet Ancelotti claimed in his pre-match press conference on Friday that his “sensations” or feelings were “completely different” to before .

“I am much more confident now than I was a month ago. We can get a better version (of ourselves) than we have recently. It's an important moment in the season, we have very strong rivals in the Champions League and La Liga and we arrive with good feelings,” he explained.

Ancelotti notes that two of his star players, Vinicius Jr. and Kylian Mbappe, who have not played for their countries in the last two weeks, have benefited from a break during the international break.

“It was very good for him,” Ancelotti said of Ballon d'Or favorite Vinicius. “He took advantage, like Kylian or Mendy, to work hard and intensely and also have rest days, which I think they enjoyed. Mine are personal feelings, then the judge will be the field tomorrow.”

On Mbappe, who missed last month's derby against Atlético Madrid due to muscle weakness, Ancelotti said he had “used the break to improve his condition”.

“He is doing very well, he is happy and he is looking forward to coming back tomorrow and being important for the team. These 15 days have helped him a lot because he is a different player than before the break,” added the Italian.

With that in mind, Mbappe and Vinicius are expected to be the first two against Celta, while Ancelotti uses four midfielders.

Two of them are outside, with Valverde on the right – meaning Rodrygo is dropped – and Jude Bellingham on the left.

In the middle of the park, Ancelotti relies on a mix of skill and muscle with doubles players Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga.

With Dani Carvajal most likely out for the rest of the season due to a tragic cruciate ligament injury he sustained last time out, Lucas Vazquez takes his place in the starting lineup at right-back.

Elsewhere in defense, Eder Militao, Toni Rüdiger and Ferland Mendy work together to help Andriy Lunin keep a clean sheet.

Real Madrid vs Celta Vigo starting lineup: Lunin; Mendy, Rüdiger, Militao, Vazquez; Camavinga, Tchouameni, Bellingham, Valverde; Vinicius, Mbappe