Ancelotti will give 2 players a rest against Rayo Vallecano, he wants them at the Metropolitano.

Real Madrid Is Focused on the Next Match in Their Schedule. Rayo Vallecano arrives at Santiago Bernabéu in a striking battle to settle in European positions, while the merengue entity needs to win no matter what to continue aspiring for the leadership. The fight for the top position in LaLiga is getting tighter every day, and Real Madrid wants to regain lost ground.

Therefore, it is essential to secure the three points from this challenging match. Not only for the potential in the top national competition, but because it could be a moral boost ahead of the Champions League round of 16 second leg. That match against Atlético de Madrid, to be played at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, influences a good part of the tactical decisions for this Sunday's match.

One of the most anticipated, though no less impactful, is Fede Valverde's benching. Real Madrid's '8' has played everything this season, completing matches with hardly any rest. Therefore, his physical condition, despite his unbelievable robustness, would have said "enough" in recent weeks, adding the fear of an injury at the worst moment.

To prevent the Uruguayan midfielder from having to visit Valdebebas's infirmary, Carlo Ancelotti will leave him on the bench against Rayo Vallecano. This decision makes a lot of sense considering that Jude Bellingham returns to the LaLiga squad after his two-match suspension for the incident at El Sadar.

Important Changes

The other expected absence in Real Madrid's starting eleven against Rayo Vallecano is Ferland Mendy. The French '23' has far exceeded his rough patch this season, avoiding an injury that would have been catastrophic for his potential appearances in the final months of the season. His evolution has even allowed him to "peek" into the offensive phase much more than the coaching staff expected.

Given that he is one of the best defensive assets of the first team, Carlo Ancelotti has no doubts. The French defender will rest to be in top form against Atlético de Madrid, and his place will be taken by Fran García. The Madrid youth player returned to the first team from Rayo Vallecano during the summer of 2023.

Initially, the Italian strategist didn't have much confidence in the current merengue '20'. His greater inclination toward attack left some doubts about his defensive commitment, but the Spanish defender has proven himself as a committed footballer and capable of fulfilling his duties. The Reggiolo coach is aware of this improvement and has decided to grant him more starting roles than expected this season.

Fran García has replied to that trust with good performances, dispelling any "vertigo" the Real Madrid coach might have had regarding his increased prominence this season. Carlo Ancelotti knows he can count on the Castilian-Manchego full-back to effectively and reliably replace Ferland Mendy whenever he needs to rest the French '23'.