Real Madrid Lincolned matchday 21 of the Primera Division unfolds during the week, as the team could not feature over the weekend due to participation in the Club World Cup held in Morocco. The Whites celebrated another trophy to their cabinet and will want to carry that momentum into a midweek visit to Santiago Bernabéu, where they host Elche CF, a team lingering at the bottom of La Liga.
Stay updated on the Real Madrid vs. Elche La Liga clash from the 2022-2023 season by following live coverage.
Before kickoff, Madrid sits second in the table, eleven points behind Barcelona, the leaders. Several key players were unavailable for selection. Ferland Mendy and Thibaut Courtois remain sidelined, while Toni Kroos misses the game due to gastroenteritis. Vinícius Júnior is suspended, and Eden Hazard is still recovering from injury. Lucas Vázquez has returned to fitness and was named in the squad, providing a welcomed option on the right flank and in the buildup play. The squad’s depth is a plus in a challenging period, but the absence of multiple regulars adds pressure on the depth chart.
The lineup options for Real Madrid are nuanced. Andriy Lunin starts in goal, with discussions about the backline pairing—whether Nacho Fernández will line up alongside Dani Carvajal, or whether Antonio Rüdiger will slot in with Eder Militao and David Alaba anchoring the defense. In midfield, Luka Modrić operates without Kroos, shielded by Aurélien Tchouaméni. The pressing decision is between Dani Ceballos and Eduardo Camavinga to complete the midfield trio. Fede Valverde, Karim Benzema, and Rodrygo complete the attacking trident, ready to drive the match from the front.
Elche, facing several missing regulars
Elche CF, led by Pablo Machín, arrives with its own injury and suspension concerns. Omar Mascarell and Helibelton Palacios are suspended, and Pere Milla, who delivered a hat-trick in the previous fixture against Villarreal, remains unavailable due to injury. Pedro Bigas returns from a sanction and competes for a starting berth with Diego González. In midfield, Raúl Guti, Randy Nteka, and Gonzalo Verdú may be called upon to replace Mascarell, while Fidel Chaves is trusted with the striker’s role alongside Ezequiel Ponce and Lucas Boyé in the absence of Milla.
Real Madrid fans can keep up with all the latest developments from the Spanish capital on Goal’s coverage, with exclusive updates as the match progresses. Citation: Goal
LINEUPS OF REAL MADRID VS. ELCHE
Real Madrid (1-4-3-3): Lunin; Carvajal, Militao, Rudiger, Alaba; Modric, Tchouameni, Ceballos; Valverde, Benzema, Rodrygo
Elche CF (1-3-4-3): Badia; Bigas, Diego González, Magallán, Enzo Roco; Carmona, Gumbau, Raul Guti, Nteka; Ezequiel Ponce, Lucas Boyé, Fidel
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Cited: Goal