Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso could have a selection quandary at center back on Sunday night at Elche. With Eder Militao, Antonio Rudiger and Dani Carvajal out, along with Aurelien Tchouameni (a midfielder who he can slot in at the position when short-handed), Alonso is running low on options. He’ll have to start Raul Asencio or David Alaba this weekend.
Real Madrid at Elche FYIs
Kickoff: Sunday, November 23, Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero, Elche, Spain
Real Madrid Preview Material: Injury Updates 1 Injury Updates 2 Starting XI Prediction Team News
La Liga Form: Real Madrid WWWWD 31 pts Elche WWLDW
La Liga Standing: Real Madrid 1st, 27 pts Elche 11th, 15 pts
Result Probability: Real Madrid win 71% Draw 17% Elche win 12%
Other than that, the first team probably picks itself, more or less. Elche are a newly promoted side, so at first glance this might seem like a cake walk for the table toppers. However, Elche are actually mid-table, and they came to play this season, so don’t just brush them off your shoulder so easily.
Real Madrid Predicted Starting XI at Elche
Thibaut Courtois; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dean Huijsen, Raul Asencio, Alvaro Carreras; Fede Valverde, Arda Guler, Jude Bellingham; Rodrygo, Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr.
Paul M. Banks is the Founding Editor of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He currently contributes to USA Today’s NFL Wires Network. His past bylines include the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune. His work has been featured in numerous outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, the Washington Post and ESPN.