Ancelotti's 2 Big Doubts for Hosting Atlético That Could Change the Starting Eleven

Real Madrid is already counting the hours to face Atlético de Madrid at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. Carlo Ancelotti's players are approaching the final stages of their tactical and technical preparation with the practical certainty of knowing what the starting eleven might be that the coach could form. However, this line-up presents a couple of doubts that the coaching staff has yet to solve.

Carlo Ancelotti's idea would involve including two players who have recently returned to the team from an injury:  Eduardo Camavinga and Lucas Vázquez. The selection of both footballers is due to the shortage of players in Santiago Bernabéu locker room. Lucas Vázquez is the only right-back who would provide the necessary confidence for this high-impact and intense match. 

Dani Carvajal's absence, recovering from a triple tear in his right knee, has left only the '17' from Curtis on that side of the white defense. But his performance has been highly debated since last January, forcing the Reggiolo coach to seek unorthodox solutions to that significant gap in his formation. Fede Valverde, versatile across the entire right flank, has adapted seamlessly to that position.

But he has done so at the cost of losing all his potential in the midfield. Lucas Vázquez's return to the squad could mean his placement as a starter against Atlético de Madrid despite the negative trend the Galician footballer is experiencing. Perhaps the constant support from Fede Valverde himself could solve the tactical dilemma considering the danger posed by the left flank of Atlético's attack.

We'll See

The other footballer raising doubts for Carlo Ancelotti is Eduardo Camavinga. The French '6', who is usually one of the best in the squad, has experienced a curious drop in performance in recent matches. His injury, from which he has just recovered, temporarily deprived the Reggiolo coach of the only available option to effectively occupy the pivot: Tchouaméni will definitively settle as a central defender.

The coaching staff fears that poor performance from the Angolan-origin stopper could hinder a good performance in the Madrid classic. Therefore, he might have minutes but in the second half: his skills fit perfectly in any scenario that this important match at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium might present.

Most forecasts place Lucas Vázquez in the starting eleven against Atlético de Madrid, a setup that would definitively move Fede Valverde to the midfield. There, the Madrid '8' could form a double pivot with players like Dani Ceballos, leaving Eduardo Camavinga on the bench for the second half.

This is a match where Real Madrid needs to give it their all. But it also serves as the prelude to a crucial round of sixteen match against Manchester City: progressing to the Champions League round of 16 is a mandatory milestone.