Carlo Ancelotti will need to balance his team for his next game this month, via the action of La Liga and Uefa Champions League.
Tonight’s home league derby against the Atletico Madrid kicks will launch a crunch run for the Los Blancos, which includes two battles against Manchester City in the final 16 playoffs.
Ancelotti is short on defense, Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao remain as long-term absentees, while Antonio Rudiger is currently on the sidelines.
German International has appeared in the Atletico Madrid match and the first leg in Manchester, but he is hoping to make a comeback to his second game in Madrid.
Ancelotti is ready to roll dice as needed in Manchester. Raul Asensio has a nod against Atletico Madrid.
The attack, if everyone remains healthy, Jude Bellingham and Fede Valverde are glued to the midfield starters, but one location in the engine compartment remains open in the Ancelotti mindset.

Dani Seboros has been given greater freedom by Ancelotti since the beginning of 2025, but Captain Luka Modric is now handing over Ancelotti’s fresh food for thought.
The 39-year-old scored Real Madrid and led the Leganes 3-2 Copa del Rey Quarter final victory in the middle of the week to remind him of his lasting brilliance.
Modric remains Ancelotti’s most trusted Li on the pitch, and the Italians backed him in his warnings of Vinicius juniors because they weren’t back to defend with Leganes.
According to a report from Relevo, his performance in that game influenced the Ancelotti plan, allowing him to start at least one game against Pep Guardiola’s team.
His age remains the number of Modrics who continue to run and work on like a player half his age, and his endurance level is enough to play the game at the highest level.