Four big changes from Ancelotti

On By Littum

Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti will make four changes to his team when they host RB Salzburg in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

Coming off shock defeats to the likes of Lille and AC Milan earlier in the maiden edition of the new league stage format, the Italian is resigned to the fact that the defending champions will probably have to compete for a play off to progress to the last 16 amid the bitter rival, FC Barcelona, ​​sealing their berth in thrilling comeback fashion at Benfica’s expense.

“If we have any (chance of getting through automatically) it is to win the two remaining games. If we play in the play-offs, we will do our best, but we are used to the demanding schedule,” explained the Italian.

This match will of course be played in the background Onda Cero reporting that Ancelotti has informed Madrid of his decision to leave at the end of the season and not fulfill a contract due to expire in mid-2026.

“I want to be very clear. The date of departure from this club will never be decided by me, never in my life,” Ancelotti said first as he started his pre-match press conference on Tuesday.

“One day that time will come, but I don’t know when it will be. I can’t decide. It could be tomorrow, in a few games, in a year… in five years.”

“Florentino (Perez) will stay here for four more years and my goal is to reach Florentino’s four years,” Ancelotti added with a smile, naming the recently re-elected president and leader of the club. “And then we say goodbye together…”

Back to the task at hand, so with that cleared up, Thibaut Courtois will start in goal at the Bernabeu defended by a back line of Fran Garcia, Antonio Rudiger, Raul Asencio and unorthodox choice Fede Valverde thanks to the first team squad not boasting a natural right-back.

As Valverde drops deeper, there is a double pivot formed by Dani Ceballos and Luka Modric.

As always, however, Jude Bellingham is the most advanced midfielder flanked by wingers Vinicius Jr. and Rodrygo when Brahim hits the bench.

Up top is an in-form Kylian Mbappe, who made important confessions this week, acting as a central No.9.

Real Madrid Starting XI vs. RB Salzburg: Courtois; Fran Garcia, Rudiger, Asencio, Valverde; Ceballos, Modric; Vincius, Bellingham, Rodrygo; Mbappe