Real Madrid predicted lineup vs Cadiz - La Liga
- Real Madrid added more casualties to their incredibly long injury list during the international break
- Andriy Lunin will start in goal with Thibaut Courtois and Kepa Arrizabalaga out
- Jude Bellingham has returned to fitness but Eduardo Camavinga and Vinicius Junior are out
By Euan Burns
Carlo Ancelotti would probably like all La Liga fixtures to suddenly be cancelled right about now.
Real Madrid have struggled with injuries all season long so far but the situation really intensified during the November international break. Thibaut Courtois, Vinicius Junior, Eduardo Camavinga and Kepa Arrizabalaga are all sidelined and there are many more who remain out as well.
Ancelotti will be forced to use his third-choice goalkeeper against Cadiz on Sunday evening and Joselu will need to come back into the starting lineup in attack. Ancelotti will be pleased he is facing one of the teams down at the bottom of La Liga, but any game is tough when you have to shuffle the starting XI so much.
Here's the lineup Ancelotti is likely to choose when Madrid take on Cadiz.
Real Madrid predicted lineup vs Cadiz (4-3-1-2)
GK: Andriy Lunin - With Courtois and Kepa both out of action, Lunin is set for a run of games in goal for Madrid where he can impress Ancelotti.
RB: Dani Carvajal - The defence seems to be the least afflicted area of the squad right now with stalwart Carvajal expected to take up his place on the right flank again.
CB: David Alaba - Another player Ancelotti will be very thankful to have fit, Alaba will use his experience to make life as easy as possible for his fellow defenders on Sunday.
CB: Antonio Rudiger - The German was suspended for the last La Liga match before the international break - a 5-1 win over Valencia - but is expected to come back into the starting XI here.
LB: Ferland Mendy - This position has been one of contention this season but it seems Mendy is the favourite now, wrestling the spot back from Fran Garcia recently.
CM: Federico Valverde - Perhaps the only fit first-choice midfielder at Madrid right now, Valverde's industrial style is always useful in these away games against lesser teams.
CM: Toni Kroos - With Aurelien Tchouameni out of action, Kroos will keep getting the minutes he has been after all season. He will be directing things from the midfield.
CM: Luka Modric - This place could go to the newly recovered Dani Ceballos to build his match fitness, but Modric is the safer choice in the absence of Camavinga.
AM: Jude Bellingham - He is back in training and is a candidate to start, so he has to be in there. Were Bellingham to have a late issue, Brahim Diaz would be expected to start in this advanced midfield role.
ST: Rodrygo - It has not been a great season for Rodrygo so far but, having scored twice against Valencia, he has a platform to build on now.
ST: Joselu - Coming in for the injured Vinicius, Joselu's profile will change the way Madrid play and there could be a short adjustment period.
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