Ancelotti likely to bench key duo for Real Madrid vs Leganes – report | OneFootball

As important as tonight’s clash against Leganes is for Real Madrid, it is in Carlo Ancelotti’s best interest to regulate the minutes of several stars who had a fatiguing international break over the past two weeks.

The South Americans, needless to say, are the players who played more deep into the hiatus and engaged in a long journey back home afterwards and the manager’s attention is thus skewed towards providing them with rest.

It will thus be interesting to see how the manager manages the minutes of the aforementioned players, especially with a gruelling schedule ahead. AS provides an update on the possible change Ancelotti may bring in on Saturday night.

Key players rested

As relayed by the Spanish outlet, midfield star Federico Valverde will not start in midfield later today out of precaution.

After all, he played 45 minutes in Uruguay’s recent World Cup qualifier earlier this week and is understandably not ready to play 90 minutes after the travel.

Rest for Valverde against Leganes? (Photo by Guillermo Legaria/Getty Images)

With the Uruguayan star starting on the bench, Aurelien Tchouameni, Jude Bellingham and Eduardo Camavinga likely start in midfield to maintain a balance of defensive quality and attacking flair. Luka Modric is also an option to take the third place in midfield.

The same source also adds that one of Vinicius Jr. or Rodrygo Goes will rest against Leganes owing to the same reason as Valverde.

Brazil, after all, played against Argentina late in a game that saw the Selecao manager Dorival Jr eventually sacked.

Of the two, it would appear that Vinicius is the player in need of more rest as he played all 90 minutes against the World Cup winners but it could well be Rodrygo who is benched as well.

The rested winger will likely be replaced by Brahim Diaz on the right who will look to work his magic alongside Kylian Mbappe and the third member in attack who may well be one of the two Brazilians.