Real Madrid's 2024 debut!3 people returned, and An Shuai's first game after contract renewal: winning = halfway championship
At 2:15 a.m. Beijing time on Thursday, in the 19th round of La Liga, Real Madrid hosted Mallorca. This is Real Madrid's debut in 2024 and the first game after Ancelotti's contract extension. If they win Mallorca, Real Madrid will be the half-way champion of La Liga.
In the first game of 2024, Real Madrid will make a comeback with 3 players
Real Madrid, which is full of wounded soldiers, is sure that it will not bring in reinforcements in the winter window. Thibaut Courtois, Alaba Alaba, Militão, Mendy and Camavinga are out injured, captain Nacho is suspended, Real Madrid's first game of the new year has limited available to Carlo Ancelotti.
However, Real Madrid welcomed back three injured players. Vinicius, who suffered a muscle strain in his left thigh, Carvajal, who injured his soleus muscle in his left leg, and Güller, a youngster who played 0 in the season, were all selected for Real Madrid's squad, and the first two are expected to start, while Güller is expected to make his Real Madrid debut.
In the first game after Ancelotti's contract renewal, he will perform another "big shift"
On December 29 last year, Real Madrid officially announced the renewal of Carlo Ancelotti's contract until 2026. Therefore, the battle with Mallorca is also the first battle after An Shuai's contract renewal. Due to the lack of major generals, Ancelotti also had to tear down the east wall to make up the west wall, Tchouameni switched to central defence, combined with Rudiger, three midfielders are Modric, Kroos, Valverde, Bellingham continued to play as a free man up front.
Real Madrid are unbeaten in 18 games and a win would be the halfway through La Liga
Under the attack of serious injuries, Real Madrid overcame difficulties and advanced on both fronts: winning all 6 games in the Champions League group stage, ranking first in La Liga with 45 points and 28 goal difference in 18 rounds. Real Madrid's last defeat, and their only defeat of the season, was in September last year, when they lost 3-1 to Atletico Madrid in La Liga. Since then, Real Madrid have won 14 and drawn 3 to remain unbeaten. In this game, Real Madrid is expected to usher in an 18-game unbeaten streak and a 10th clean sheet in La Liga.
If they win Girona, Real Madrid will be the half-way champions of La Liga. The last time Real Madrid won the La Liga halfway title was in the 2021-22 season, when Carlo Ancelotti's Real Madrid finally won the La Liga title with a seven-point advantage. In La Liga last season, Barcelona was the halfway champion and eventually won the championship.
Real Madrid expected starters (4312):
Lunin/Carvajal, Rudiger, Tchouameni, Fran Garcia/Valverde, Kroos, Luka Modric/Bellingham/Rodrygo, Vinicius