Real Madrid possible XI against Barca for Copa del Rey semi-final Clásico

Carvajal or Lucas Vázquez, a dilemma on the left side and a traffic jam in the middle. Carlo Ancelotti has big decisions to make.

Real Madrid’s starting eleven at the Camp Nou have six doubts. Six, in what is the biggest puzzle that boss Carlo Ancelotti has had to face so far this year. Carvajal or Lucas Vazquez? Rudiger or Alaba? Nacho... or Camavinga and will Tchouameni come in? Modric and Kroos... but then Valverde is benched? Delirium, it’s time to decide.

Only five players are without question: Courtois will play between the sticks; Militao is the kaiser in behind; and up front, along with the now-very-much-aligned Vinicius and Benzema, Rodrygo has edged himself into the plans. But beyond that, the dilemma is burning. And by questioning all this, he throws doubt over the formation: will 4-2-3-1 be repeated?

Barça-Madrid: Carvajal or Lucas Vázquez?

Carletto is not accustomed to experimenting in big games, but the recent brilliance of the Galician, together with the doubts that the man from Madrid has been sowing for months, spark more debate than normal at right back. After the international break, the chosen one was Lucas, in what was presented as a healthy rotation, precisely so that Carvajal could arrive at the Camp Nou in optimal condition.

But the number 17 shone. He was electric, impeccable in defense and even threatened to find a goal in the final moments. “I already consider myself a fullback, yes,” he confessed a few months ago. And he has a serious chance of being one at the Camp Nou.

Madrid’s defensive doubts

Across the rest of the backline there are other doubts. Rüdiger or Alaba? Only one can accompany Militao in the center of defense; with Nacho, theoretically, behind in that race. The German’s physical condition could be decisive (he has knee problems, although optimism reigns after the tests carried out this Monday). If he doesn’t make it, which seems increasingly unlikely, the position would go to Alaba but... Then who would be the left back?

This is where the possibility of Nacho comes into play, as he already did in the league duel. But we have to consider Camavinga’s name in this discussion. It may not be his favoured position but his performance against Valladolid has reinforced his candidacy. Decisions, decision...

Midfield chaos for El Clásico

Camavinga, Tchouameni, Modric, Kroos, Valverde and Ceballos... for three places. Does Ancelotti bet on the Petrorian Guard, with Modric and Kroos? The truth is that the Croatian’s rest against Valladolid suggests that he will indeed play, so two positions remain. And with Camavinga, seen as a step ahead of Tchouameni, it’s up to Kroos to fight for the position with Valverde and Ceballos. That is the most favorable scenario, but the equation could include anything from Tchouameni-Modric-Valverde to Camavinga-Ceballos-Modric. Talk about being spoiled for choice!

The only thing that seems untouchable is the attacking trident, where, together with Vinicius and Benzema, Rodrygo has earned his stripes. The Brazilian overflowing with confidence and is a regular in the big games. But exactly where?

Real Madrid predicted XI for Barcelona in Copa Clásico

It is not at all bizarre to think that Ancelotti could repeat the 4-2-3-1 that he had so much joy against Valladolid... and with which he showed the best version of his team at the Camp Nou (the last quarter of an hour of the league game, when Asensio scored but was a whisker offside).

There is the possibility of Valverde on the right flank and Rodrygo as playmaker, which would reduce the number of places in midfield to two. Faced with this possibility, Modric-Kroos loses strength, since one of the two pieces should be a defensive midfielder (Camavinga or Tchouameni). Unless the intention is to jump onto the battlefield without armor, attacking weapons flailing, given everything from the start in an attempt to surprise the opponent, quieten the crowd and, ultimately, maintain the overall Clásico record. The thousand and one dilemmas have less than 48 hours to be resolved. Ancelotti will take answers on a postcard.

Our predicted Real Madrid starting XI: Courtois, Carvajal, Militao, Rüdiger, Alaba, Camavinga, Modric, Vinicius, Benzema, Rodrigo.