Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti was left with a decision to make after Rodrygo Goes picked up an injury in midweek, ensuring he would need to change from the 4-3-3 he had been using to the beginning of the season. The Classic. It looks like Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni will start at the expense of Luka Modric.
It still looked likely that one of the trio would miss out, with Jude Bellingham and Fede Valverde certain to be somewhere behind Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior up front. Marco report that Ancelotti has decided, and will use Camavinga and Bellingham as wider players in a midfield four, with Valverde and Tchouameni behind them in the middle.
The expected formations. @mundodeportivo, @lesportiuCAT, @diarioas, @marca pic.twitter.com/X8kWTRxbXQ
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The main aim behind the move is to give Real Madrid security in defence, trying to minimize the space that Raphinha and Lamine Yamal have. They can go down in the middle at times, but they will also try to create doubts for Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde, when they decide whether to go forward or not. Ancelotti wants to create indecision on his part.
If this is indeed the case, Real Madrid will lose the control and incisiveness that Modric provides in the middle of the pitch. With Barcelona's top line likely to be Real Madrid's primary point of attack, Modric is perhaps their best bet to clear that top line. In addition to the points above, however, the inclusion of Camavinga provides a physically imposing and combative midfield block, perhaps allowing them to recover the ball more quickly.
