Real Madrid brings five young players to Saudi Arabia for Spanish Supercup, veteran player returns from injury

The Real Madrid squad for the Spanish Supercup semi-final against Atletico Madrid has been named, and it includes five Castilla players. Despite the shrinking injury list in recent weeks, the squad is looking relatively healthy compared to earlier in the season. Full-back Ferland Mendy has been named in the squad, along with the return of Vinicius Junior, Aurelien Tchouameni, and Toni Kroos. With the squad shaping up, Ancelotti has some decisions to make ahead of the game.

Healthy Squad with Youth Inclusion

Real Madrid’s injury list has been reducing, with Ferland Mendy training without issue and other players making a return. The inclusion of five Castilla players in the squad is a testament to the club’s trust in youthful talent.

Young Players’ Chances

With the absences in the squad, young players like Vinicius Tobias and Alvaro Carrillo have a chance of making an appearance. However, Ancelotti tends to lean towards using senior players out of position rather than relying on the youngsters.

Decisions for Ancelotti

With the return of several key players, Ancelotti has several decisions to make. He needs to decide on the starting lineup, including choosing between Andriy Lunin or Kepa Arrizabalaga in goal, and determining the midfield lineup between Toni Kroos, Brahim Diaz, and Aurelien Tchouameni.

Tactics and Formation

Ancelotti has switched to a reasonably orthodox 4-4-2 without the ball, and he has to decide on the best combination of players to fit this system. Additionally, he must consider defensive options, including the possibility of using Eduardo Camavinga as a left-back.