Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti will play a risky game with his lineup for Saturday’s La Liga match against Mallorca.
There have been mixed reports on whether the Italian would make big rotations for the fixture considering his squad travels to Manchester City on Wednesday for a decisive Champions League quarterfinal second leg tie.
As Los Blancos boast an eight-point lead at the top of La Liga, some feel that the Italian can afford to rest players.
In his pre-match press conference on Friday, however, the Italian was defiant and insisted that City are an afterthought while he focuses on the task in hand.
Meeting a team that lost the Copa del Rey final to Athletic Club on penalties next weekend, Ancelotti expects a “difficult, competitive, fought,” affair against an opponent “with an extraordinary collective attitude”.
“It’s going to be intense. We’ll try to match what the opponent does very well: commitment,” he vowed.
“The priority is tomorrow, not Manchester. This week we have a lot at stake, like all teams. We maintain the confidence of a few days ago and, I repeat, tomorrow is vital.”
Letting in three goals against City, Andriy Lunin will keep his place in goal. Captain Nacho comes into central defense, however, to partner Antonio Rudiger, while the left back and right back should be Fran Garcia and Lucas Vazequez.
Ancelotti is at least being sensible with this by giving Ferland Mendy and Dani Carvajal a rest.
With Aurelien Tchouameni suspended for City, he can step into midfield to accommodate Nacho’s entry into the fold and will partner Luka Modric so that Toni Kroos can take a breather.
