Eibar vs. Real Madrid: How Los Blancos Should Line Up in La Liga Game
With Luka Modric ruled out injured, Carlo Ancelotti has a question to answer: Who should he pair in midfield with Toni Kroos for the trip to Eibar?
Given Modric picked up the groin strain on Sunday night while on international duty with Croatia, Real Madrid's Italian boss has had plenty of time this week to mull over the contenders for a starting berth.
Asier Illarramendi and Isco, in a deeper role, are two of the candidates, but it seems much more likely that Ancelotti will go for a German connection instead.
Sami Khedira is yet to start in La Liga or the Champions League for Madrid this seasonโhe did begin the 4-1 Copa del Rey win over UE Cornellaโbut that's largely because his own injury kept him out of the side early on in the campaign.
With his re-found fitness once again prevalent in Germany's 1-0 win over Spain in Vigo, Ancelotti should lean towards the 27-year-old. Marca journalist J.I Garcia-Ochoa certainly thinks that will be the case.
Elsewhere, Ancelotti will have to take Eibar seriously. They've earned that.
From a town with a population of less than 30,000 and with their ground, Ipurua, holding less than 6,000, the Basque newcomers were tipped to struggle in the top flight. They haven't yet, though. After 11 games, they're resting in the top half of the table; they're even ahead of their regional rivals Athletic Bilbao and Real Sociedad.
It means Madrid can ill afford to underestimate a side that haveย lost just one at home this seasonโeven if Los Blancos do go into the game looking for their 14th straight win.
Iker Casillas should start in goal; in front of him,ย Ancelotti should be able to call on his first-choice back four of Dani Carvajal, Sergio Ramos, Pepe and Marcelo. Carvajal missed out on the Spain squad through injury, but Madrid's websiteย (in Spanish) confirmed he trained on Thursday.
Aside from Khedira replacing Modric, there may be another change in midfield as well. Isco's form for club and country has been insatiable lately, and he may have felt hard done by to be left out for Gareth Bale in the final game before the international break.
However, Ancelotti may apply some rotation here: James Rodriguez has started all 11 matches in the league to date, but he could be handed a break here.
He was in London last weekend with Colombia and then travelled to Slovenia for a midweek friendly; although he's not racked up too many air miles, it may give Ancelotti a reason to bring Isco back into the side.
And then in the final third, Real Madrid will look to outpower Eibar with Cristiano Ronaldo, Bale and Karim Benzema.
Bale returned with a goal against Rayo Vallecano last time out, and Ronaldo, per Marca, is looking to score against another new side in a white shirt. So far, he's scored against 50 of the 51 rivals he's played against since signing in 2009โa goal at Ipurua would make it 51 out of 52.
The one that got away? Dinamo Zagreb.
How Madrid Should Line Up vs. Eibar: Casillas; Carvajal, Ramos, Pepe, Marcelo; Khedira, Kroos, Isco; Bale, Benzema, Ronaldo
