La Liga leader Real Madrid faces Mallorca
La Liga leaders Real Madrid will look to kick off 2024 on a positive note when they host Mallorca at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday.
Despite having to deal with a plethora of injuries since the start of the 2023/24 season, Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid have everything to play for, and their new year will kick off on Wednesday, as they welcome a resurgent RCD Mallorca to the Bernabeu.
After ending 2023 at the top of the La Liga table, Real Madrid currently sit at the top of the table alongside surprise package Girona, albeit with a better goal difference, and will be looking to pile on the pressure on their inexperienced title rivals during the second half of the season.
Los Blancos secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Deportivo Alaves in their previous La Liga game and will aim to extend a 13-match home unbeaten streak (W11 D2). Mallorca, meanwhile, will look to continue where they left off in 2023, having finished the calendar year with a six-game undefeated streak across all competitions (W3 D3).
After beating Valle Egues and Sevilla without reply in the Copa del Rey and La Liga, respectively, Mallorca settled for a point in a goalless stalemate with basement club Almeria on December 17 before recording a vital 3-2 victory over Osasuna last time out. Los Bermellones currently sit 14th, five points above the relegation zone.
While Mallorca can take solace from their admirable 1-0 home victory against Real Madrid in February, getting anything out of this game will be a tall order for the visitors. Dani Carvajal and Vinicius Junior are expected to return to Real Madrid’s squad for Wednesday’s match against RCD Mallorca. Carvajal has missed the past four games due to a calf issue, while Vinicius has been sidelined with a thigh problem since November.
Carlo Ancelotti may recall Carvajal for this encounter. But he is unlikely to risk Vinicius, who may start the game on the bench. Eduardo Camavinga, who suffered a knee injury while on international duty with France back in November, is also back in contention to return to the fold.
Real Madrid will still be without the services of Thibaut Courtois, David Alaba, and Eder Militao, all sidelined with anterior cruciate ligament injuries, while Ferland Mendy is also doubtful.
Ancelotti could choose Andriy Lunin ahead of Kepa Arrizabalaga in goal. While Carvajal may be preferred over Lucas Vazquez at right-back, Fran Garcia is set to remain on the left side of the defence. With Nacho banned after being sent off in the victory against Alaves, Aurelien Tchouameni may be forced to play as a temporary center-back alongside Antonio Rudiger.
Luka Modric should be joined by Toni Kroos and Federico Valverde in the middle of the park. Meanwhile, talismanic midfielder Jude Bellingham is set to line up behind the front two of Brahim Diaz and Rodyrgo.
