La Liga 2024-25: Ancelotti Prefers to Keep Team Consistent Before Rayo Encounter
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Madrid (Spain), Dec 14 (NationPress) Real Madrid has the opportunity to reach the summit of La Liga for a brief 24 hours when they make the short journey to encounter Rayo Vallecano on Saturday. Carlo Ancelotti's team is buoyed by a confidence-enhancing win against the Italian club, Atalanta, in the Champions League on Tuesday night, which dispelled worries about their ability to advance to the knockout stages of that tournament.
This victory, however, came at a cost, as Kylian Mbappe sustained a hamstring injury, preventing him from traveling to the Vallecas Stadium and casting doubt on his participation in the Intercontinental Cup final in Qatar on December 18.
Mbappe is now alongside left-back Ferland Mendy, Eder Militao, Dani Carvajal, David Alaba, and Eduardo Camavinga on the injury roster.
Alaba and Camavinga are back in training, with Ancelotti noting in his pre-match press briefing that the French international might return for Saturday's game.
With the Intercontinental Cup approaching, Ancelotti faces the dilemma of whether to rest Jude Bellingham. Bellingham has been crucial for Madrid, netting six goals in his last seven appearances, but he has also displayed signs of fatigue, particularly during last weekend's 3-0 victory in Girona.
"He is an essential player, not only for his quality but for the commitment he brings to the team, which the players appreciate in a leader - his dedication," remarked Ancelotti, who further mentioned that Mbappe would accompany the team to the Intercontinental Cup if he recovers in time.
Vinicius Jr pushed through a hamstring recovery to feature in Italy on Tuesday, and Ancelotti must now decide whether to risk another key player, with Brahim Diaz and Arda Guler providing dependable alternatives, although the coach seems hesitant to make adjustments.
"I can rotate the squad if I have enough players, but with just 14 or 15 available, it becomes challenging; we have several young talents, and it's not always beneficial to include them in the lineup," Ancelotti stated.
