Real Madrid is scheduled to play Deportivo Alaves at the Mendizorrotza on Thursday night, and they will be looking to close the season on a high note.

Girona leads the league by two points, and Los Blancos could close the margin to five points when the Catalan team plays Real Betis earlier on Thursday.

Thus, a victory will be required to prevent Real Madrid from slipping more behind in the battle for the championship or even to perhaps profit in the event that Girona loses to Betis.

Carlo Ancelotti and company, meanwhile, will travel to Vitoria crippled by numerous injuries, as several first-team regulars are out.

David Alaba and Ferland Mendy have lately joined the likes of Arda Guler, Eduardo Camavinga, Vinicius Jr., Eder Militao, and Thibaut Courtois on the sidelines; Dani Carvajal has not healed enough to play again.

In addition, Joselu, who is on the travelling team and may play some role versus Alaves, missed today’s practice due to illness. Here’s how Ancelotti might lineup his Real Madrid team for tomorrow night given the number of players missing.

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Starters: In his pregame press conference, manager Carlo Ancelotti announced that Kepa Arrizabalaga will start in goal against Alaves instead of Andriy Lunin, who made his debut against Villarreal over the weekend.

There will be two unavoidable alterations to the defensive lineup: captain Nacho Fernandez will start with Antonio Rudiger at the centre of the Merengues’ defence in place of David Alaba.

In the meanwhile, Fran Garcia will assume command at left back following Ferland Mendy’s untimely demise. Lucas Vazquez will continue to play for the visitors on the right side of the backline.

Even though Aurelien Tchouameni is returned to full fitness, Ancelotti may decide to keep him on the roster in case there are any further problems at centre back.

Because of this, Real Madrid will probably start with Federico Valverde and Toni Kroos as their double pivot, which has been effective in their last few games. Jude Bellingham and Luka Modric will occupy the wide midfield spots, looking to continuously drift in.

Real Madrid’s top attacking combo of Brahim Diaz and Rodrygo Goes has been effective thus far; during the weekend, they both scored goals against Villarreal. Ancelotti is therefore unlikely to change anything that is effective for his team.

The predicted lineup for Real Madrid is as follows: Bellingham, Brahim, Rodrygo, Kepa, Vazquez, Rudiger, Nacho, Garcia, Modric, Valverde, and Kroos.

Alternatives

Given Real Madrid’s dearth of options at centre back, Aurelien Tchouameni will almost certainly enter the game at some point during the second half, either to relieve one of the central midfielders or perhaps to start at the position.

Dani Ceballos and academy graduate Nico Paz, who has impressed at every chance he has been given so far, may get minutes in the interim. Joselu ought to join the action as well, if he is fit. If not, youthful Gonzalo Garcia might make an appearance.