Injured players: Asensio, James, Nacho, Lucas Vazquez, Hazard, Marcelo, Bale Technical decision: Mariano Expected Lineup: Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Ramos, Mendy; Casemiro, Valverde, Isco, Modric, Rodrygo, Benzema
Low key, this is a bit of a trap game. While Espanyol is not good, it’s easy to overlook this game and focus on Valencia and Barcelona ahead. While this is the type of Liga game one would expect we rotate, I think we go with mostly the full strength lineup. The game to rotate will be against Brugge in the midweek that is completely meaningless. For example, let’s say we sit Casemiro who is on 4 yellows and we sit him vs Brugge too. He would then go to Mestalla without having played in 2 weeks. That’s too long.
Espanyol is absolutely terrible and as far as I can remember we've been beating them out their socks no matter how bad we were doing. They're one of favorites when we need a moral boost.
Vin - Jović - Rodrygo Valverde - Modrić Casemiro Mendy - Militao - Varane - Carvajal Areola Midweek rest all starters vs. Brugge.
Ramos & Benzema will definitely play tomorrow. I don't Zidane takes any risks to drop points.. The club lost against 18th place Mallorca few weeks ago. If anything, the starters will be rested vs. Brugge. Real Madrid are already qualified for RO16 anyway.
You make it sound as if regulars had spotless results. The contrary. Point being this are type of games perfect for rotations - which are crucial for successful season. We have Valencia and Barcelona after. Midweek "rest" vs. Brugge does nothing on itself.
Zidane should be sacked alone for saying we have one of the best Medical departments around. It’s. A. Shambles.
Ramos and (especially) Benzema are among the best players in the club and they are 100% healthy. There's no reason for either of them to rest, it doesn't make any sense. Or do you prefer to see Messi & Barca win LaLiga for the sake of giving minutes to inferior players in such a important fixture? Taking 3 points against clubs like Espanyol on a consistent basis is how you win league trophies.
Damn. Espanyol must be beasting this season to be considered such an "important" fixture. Let us look at the table. Wait, they ain`t top 5. They ain`t top 10. They ain`t top 15. Where are they? Oh, look at them. 19th. Won 2 and tied 3 matches, having scored 10 and received 28 goals in 15 matches. Oh my. I wonder how Jović and Militao can handle them! Now, to put more context to your dumbass post: Benzema has played 13/14 matches in La Liga, specifically 1k+ minutes averaging 86 minutes per match. Plus 5/5 CL matches, full minutes. Ramos who ain`t even close to performances of Benzema this season - quite the contrary, has played 14/14 matches in La Liga, full minutes. 4/5 CLmatches - missing one due to suspension, full minutes per match. After Espanyol, we have two crucial matches AWAY: Valencia and Barcelona and after that Bilbao at home. There are your reasons why to rotate. Why might rotations be important you might ask? Not just keeping players healthy, but also crucially handling their form.
Last time we took a game lightly against one of the worst teams in liga, we lost, Mallorca. Wanna see Vini Benz Rodrygo, Jovic early sub second half and let him start against Brugge.
We were struggling with form, played away and fielded comical back-line ( fullbacks ) + two AM`s and three forwards. What could go wrong? Are we seriously suggesting that Vin, Jović and Rodrygo cannot handle scoring vs. Espanyol? If so, when the fck can we play them?
I just said play vini and rodrygo. Would just let them start with big Benz, give Jovic 90 mins van brugge.
I say, keep Benzy locked and loaded on zie bench if needed and prep him for Valencia, Barcelona and Bilbao. He is playing to much minutes. No way he lasts through entire season with such tempo.
I think we go full B team in Brugge with Valencia and Barca back to back afterwards. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Mariano and Brahim in that game.
Playing Brahim and Mariano would be literally waste of minutes. Invest that minutes in Jović and Vinicius.
I sure hope so we are going full B-squad. With Vin, Jović and Rodrygo in main roles. If i see Lucas fckin Vasquez starting i am switching tv off.
We should start the best team possible,it would be catastrophic if we lose points here,with Valencia and Barcelona away next . Casemiro should start and get a yellow and miss the Valencia game,if he play against Valencia and get a yellow he is out for El Clasico which is a disaster. I would like to see Areola,Carvajal,Militao,Varane,Mendy,Casemiro,Valverde,Kroos,Isco,Benzema and one of Vinicius/Rodrygo. Areola needs minutes and this and Brugge are a good oppurtunity for him to start 3 games in a row,against Brugge we will give rest to the regular starters,today we need the best team.
📝🙌 Here's our starting XI to face @RCDEspanyol! #RMLiga pic.twitter.com/g7lXlHcVFi— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) December 7, 2019 Courtois Carvajal - Varane - Ramos - Mendy Valverde - Casemiro - Kroos Rodrygo - Benzema - Vinicius