Real Madrid Versus Atletico Madrid Preview: Line Up And System Change From Ancelotti

Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti will make changes to his team's system and line up when it faces crosstown rivals Atletico Madrid in the derby on Sunday night in Spain.

"They are always a great rival and that is not going to change. It will be an entertaining, hard-fought match, because there is a lot of quality in both teams. It's going to be a show," Ancelotti said in a prematch press conference to preview the fixture.

Furthermore, the Italian also noted Atleti's summer spending spree and voiced his belief that they have "improved a lot".

"They've signed good players and I think they're going to fight until the end for this league with us and with Barcelona," he predicted.

Speaking of the Catalans, their 4- 2 loss to Osasuna on Saturday night means that Los Blancos can move within a point of them through beating the Rojiblancos.

On the other side of the ball, however, coming out on top would move third placed Atleti up to second and just three behind Hansi Flick's men.

Both sides need to go all out then, with Ancelotti refusing to confirm which approach he would go for to the press.

"I don't pay much attention [to the system]," he claimed, indicating that he will "put in one more midfielder, be it in a 4-4-2, or to put a striker in a 4-3-3".

"What I look for is that the team is supportive and committed," he stressed.

Having said this, though, the absence of Kylian Mbappe, who has fallen to a muscle injury, means that Ancelotti will opt for four midfielders.

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Captain Luka Modric returns to the first XI to form a double pivot with Aurelien Tchouameni in the centre, while Jude Bellingham and Fede Valverde appear to be advanced wide men on paper as wingers Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr. are the 'strikers' in a 4-4-2.

This plan worked to great success in the treble-winning campaign of 2023/2024, and often found Bellingham operating as a false 9 while challenging for Spain's top scorer award known as the Pichichi.

On the back line it is Dani Carvajal, Antonio Rudiger, Eder Militao and Ferland Mendy, as goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois once again faces his former club.

Real Madrid First XI Vs. Atletico Madrid: Courtois; Carvajal, Rudiger, Militao, Mendy; Modric, Tchouameni, Valverde, Bellingham; Rodrygo, Vinicius