Kylian Mbappé will miss Real Madrid’s first major meeting this season. If he has already been decisive for the European Super Cup at the very start of the season, the 25-year-old striker was expected for the first big Spanish shock: the Madrid derby on the pitch of Atlético de Madrid, this Sunday evening (9 p.m.). But an injury to his left leg that occurred against Alavès this week (3-2) will deprive him of competition for the next three weeks.
To replace him, Carlo Ancelotti had several options and gave some clues at a press conference: “We are used to playing without Kylian Mbappé, he was not there last season. We will do a good job. I don’t pay much attention to the system. A 4-3-3 can transform into 4-4-2 with the same players. Maybe with three strikers it will be a 4-4-2 with Vini or Rodrygo as a winger. What I want is for the team to show solidarity and commitment.”had indicated the Mister, to the media.
Endrick sacrificed
Several options were then discussed, such as aligning Endrick, wanting to have more playing time after his good entries at the end of the match. Or give more playing time to Arda Güler and reposition Rodrygo in the center, Carlo Ancelotti chose a more classic idea. According to Marca, Real Madrid will play in 4-3-1-2 with Federico Valverde, Aurélien Tchouméni and Eduardo Camavinga, lined up from the start for his return, in midfield.
Up front, Jude Bellingham would return to an attacking role behind Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr, as Real Madrid played at the start of last season. A questionable choice and one which may frustrate the young Brazilian Endrick, author of very good entries since the start of the season, but undoubtedly too soft to start in a difficult meeting at the Civitas Metropolitano, of Atlético de Madrid. Because with Barça’s defeat on Saturday evening, Real Madrid can come back to within one point of their rival if successful.
