Real Madrid Vs. Leganes Lineup: Ancelotti Forced To Make Odd ...

Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti will be forced to make odd selection choices when his men ... [+] travel across town to Leganes for a La Liga clash on Sunday.

Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti will be forced to make odd selection choices when his men head across town to Leganes for a La Liga clash on Sunday.

This is because of many an injury woe the Italian's depleted squad has, with three players picking up injuries in the first half of a 4-0 win over Osasuna last time out.

Dani Carvajal fell earlier to an ACL rupture that has also ended Eder Militao's season, and with the Spaniard's stand-in Lucas Vazquez out for a month, midfielder Fede Valverde will have to step up and put in a shift at right back.

Next to him will be Raul Asencio, who replaced Militao against Osasuna and provided a rapid assist for Jude Bellingham to score his first goal of the 2024/2025 season.

The rest of the defensive line is completed by Ancelotti's only senior natural center back in Toni Rudiger, and Ferland Mendy to his left.

In midfield, with a Aurelien Tchouameni linked to Manchester United on the sick list, Eduardo Camavinga is the lone pivot behind captain Luka Modric and Bellingham.

Up top, as Rodrygo - you guessed it - unavailable thanks to a niggle, Kylian Mbappe is flanked by left and right wingers Vinicius Jr. and Brahim.

Now able to cut a deficit at the top of the table that was once as high as six points to just one if it wins its two games, thanks to leader FC Barcelona collapsing at Celta Vigo, Madrid is "good" and has "come back in good shape" from the international break "without problems" according to Ancelotti.

"Those who have been here worked well. We have to confirm the good feelings of the last game. We want to start well. Hopefully a good game will come out," the manager added at his prematch press conference, where he also said speculation about Mbappe's mental health is "too ugly".

While Barca has been unable to win its last pair of La Liga matches, Madrid could make it two victories on the trot by beating Leganes, which would boost morale ahead of travelling to Anfield for a Champions League showdown with Premier League leaders Liverpool.

Real Madrid Vs. Leganes Starting XI: Courtois; Mendy, Rudiger, Asencio, Valverde; Camavinga, Bellingham, Modric; Brahim, Vincius, Mbappe