Fede Valverde, the player with more minutes in the squad, could rest in a key game to recover the leadership
Real Madrid receives Girona on Saturday in a transcendental match for its aspirations in LaLiga, after three days without knowing the victory. The demanding charge of matches accumulated by Carlo Ancelotti, added to physical wear after the tie against Manchester City in the Champions League, will force the Italian coach to perform rotations in the eleven.
Fede Valverde, on alert for muscle overload
The most worrying case is that of Fede Valverde, who played with a spectacular bandage in the left thigh against Manchester City and has been in the hands of the physiotherapists since then. The Uruguayan is the only team player who has played the 41 games of the team this season, a fact that reflects its importance for the Ancelotti scheme.
However, the avecine calendar, with the semifinals of the Copa del Rey before the Real Sociedad and the quarterfinal duel of the Champions League against Atlético de Madrid, could force his rest against Girona.
The management of the minutes will be key, especially in a center of the field where Jude Bellingham will be absent by sanction and the team needs to find alternatives to balance his game.
Possible changes in the eleven of Madrid
Ancelotti plans to make several modifications in the eleven to give rest to some of its most demanded players. In defense, Lucas Vázquez and Fran García could return to the starting team, while in the midfield, Modric and Camavinga have many options to be from the game. In attack, Brahim Díaz could be one of the novelties, taking advantage of the absence of Bellingham and the need for freshness in the offensive line.
The white team does not win in the League since January 28 (2-0 to Getafe) and has chained two draws and a defeat, which allowed Barcelona to take the lead. The victory against Girona thus becomes fundamental to recover ground in the fight for the title.
Girona arrives in crisis and with sensitive casualties
Girona lands at Santiago Bernabéu at its worst moment of the season. Those of Míchel have lost their last two league games, falling against Real Sociedad and Getafe, and have only achieved three victories in the last 15 games counting all competitions.
For this clash, the Madrid coach loses Yangel Herrera, a pillar in the center of the field, who was expelled on the last day against Getafe. The absence of the Venezuelan represents a problem for a Girona that has already shown defensive weaknesses in its last exits. Danjuma and Abel Ruiz, on the other hand, are available again and could be key to trying to surprise the Bernabéu.
However, the visit to Madrid is one of the most complicated of the season. Real Madrid has only yielded two stumbling blocks at home in the League, with a defeat against Barcelona (0-4) and a draw against Atlético de Madrid (1-1).
A key game in LaLiga fight
With Barcelona as a provisional leader, Real Madrid has the opportunity to recover first solo position with a victory against Girona. The pressure is maximum and Ancelotti will have to find the balance between giving rest to its most loaded players and ensuring three vital points in the fight for the title.
The unknown is in the eleven that the Italian coach will present, but everything indicates that Fede Valverde could be the great absence in a crucial duel for the future of the championship.