Real Madrid lineup against Alaves: Five changes from Ancelotti

Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti will not leave Kylian Mbappe out of the starting line-up as expected when his team face Deportivo Alaves at the Bernabeu on Tuesday.

At a pre-match press conference in the Spanish capital on Monday afternoon, the Italian was tight-lipped when asked if he would give a rest to the Frenchman, who has started every game for Los Blancos since joining on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain this summer.

However, he confirmed that there will be rotation and that Dani Carvajal will not be fit enough to play, while the right-back is likely to feature in the Madrid derby this weekend.

Contrary to AS’s reports, Ancelotti will not send Endrick to make his first start as a number 9 in the number 16 shirt. It would have been an all-Brazilian attack, with the 18-year-old flanked by fellow countrymen Vinicius Jr. and Rodrygo.

Instead, the same wingers will partner up with Kylian Mbappe. But Ancelotti is happy with Endrick and sees in him someone who works hard and is motivated.

“For me he is a centre-forward… but sometimes he can also play on the wing. He is not a winger, but he can play very well inside the pitch and also take advantage of the minutes on the wing,” said Ancelotti.

Back to the lineup: Ancelotti relies on a midfield trio consisting of Jude Bellingham and Fede Valverde, supported by pivot Aurelien Tchouameni, while captain Luka Modric is out.

There are places available in the lineup for both Eder Militao and Eder Militao after the German was rested in the last game against Espanyol.

With Carvajal out, he is replaced by Lucas Vazquez, while Ferland Mendy steps in for Fran Garcia at left-back while the defense tries to protect Thibaut Courtois’ goal.

A win gives Madrid the chance to reduce arch-rivals Barcelona’s lead to just one point before the Catalans host Getafe on Wednesday.