Real Madrid Versus Mallorca Preview: Ancelotti Has Huge Returns To Lineup

Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti will welcome the return of star player Vinicius Jr. for his team's first La Liga match of 2024 against Mallorca at the Bernabeu on Wednesday.

Vinicius looked set to suffer his longest absence through injury as a Madrid player after tearing a thigh muscle while on international duty for Brazil against Colombia.

The knock was expected to have him out until the start of February, but a brilliant recovery that has gone better than imagined could see him start up front with compatriot Rodrygo.

As part of his own setback triggered by an abductor injury, Kepa will be replaced between the sticks by Andriy Lunin.

Across the backline, Dani Carvajal also returns from injury at right back and Fran Garcia is the left back with Ferland Mendy not expected to be fit until next week as confirmed by Ancelotti at his pre-match press conference on Monday.

It was at the same media meeting that Ancelotti revealed he held talks with the CBF to possibly take the Brazil national team manager's post, and that the club will not be signing a center back in the January transfer window despite being short-staffed in that area of the pitch.

With Nacho red-carded at Alaves last time out, his second half replacement on that day - Aurelien Tchouameni - will partner Antonio Rudiger in a back four.

In midfield, Toni Kroos and Fede Valverde will team up centrally as Jude Bellingham and Luka Modric adopt what appear to be left and right wing positions that should allow them to drift into the middle.

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Up top, it is as said Vinicius and Rodrygo reforming a partnership that yielded a number of goals and assists before the new year, and which helped Los Blancos secure qualification to the Champions League last 16 plus also close out the calendar year top of La Liga.

With this match coming first on Wednesday evening in Spain, a win will see Real Madrid pull out three points clear of Girona before they host Atletico Madrid at Montilivi later on.

Real Madrid First XI Versus Mallorca: Lunin; Garcia, Rudiger, Tchaoumeni, Carvajal; Bellingham, Kroos, Valverde, Modric; Vinicus, Rodrygo