Real Madrid Versus Villarreal Line Up: Ancelotti Drops A Big Name

Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti will drop a big name from his starting line up as Kylian Mbappe is reintroduced against Villarreal in La Liga on Saturday.

At a prematch press conference in the Spanish capital on Friday afternoon, Ancelotti noted that the visitors who were the last team to be his men at the Bernabeu have been "doing very well" thus far this season with tonight's fixture providing Los Blancos with "an opportunity for us to reconnect, to play good football again."

Madrid of course saw its 36-game unbeaten run come to a crashing end against Lille in the Champions League midweek which ushered in what some have called exaggerated talk of a crisis.

Ancelotti didn't want to put such labels on the criticism, noting that everyone has the right to an opinion, and also publicly identified what he believes is wrong with his team.

"There are times when you have to reconnect, and you have to do it soon," he also highlighted.

"Sometimes a good run makes you believe you are invincible, but a defeat reconnects you with reality. We are not at our level yet, we have players who are not at their best level. [But] we are not far from where we want to be. There is a lack of defensive intensity and offensively, the circulation of the ball [is also lacking]."

As Ancelotti rings changes compared to last time out, Eduardo Camavinga, whose handball gave away the penalty that led to Jonathan David's winner in Lille, becomes a sacrificial lamb.

In a three-man midfield, there is only room for one pivot which is Aurelien Tchouameni, as he sits behind Jude Bellingham and Fede Valverde who are in more advanced attacking positions.

On the front line, Kylian Mbappe returns from an injury ahead of schedule and is joined by the Brazilian wingers Vinicius Jr. and Rodrygo.

Back in defense, Andriy Lunin's goal is protected by Ferland Mendy, Toni Rudiger, Eder Militao and Dani Carvajal.

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As the Catalans don't play until Sunday, the aim here would be to pick up a win and draw level on points with Hansi Flick's men before they take on Alaves away.

Real Madrid First XI Vs. Alaves: Lunin; Mendy, Rudiger, Militao, Carvajal; Tchouameni, Bellingham, Valverde; Vinicius, Mbappe, Rodrygo