Exhausted Real Madrid to hand 25-year-old a start vs Villarreal with teenage sensation also in plans | OneFootball

Real Madrid are set to face Villarreal in what is expected to be one of their toughest away fixtures in La Liga this season.

With the game taking place just days after an intense and exhausting Madrid derby, Carlo Ancelotti has some key decisions to make regarding squad rotation.

Now, according to reports from AS, Brahim Diaz is set to feature in the starting lineup, while Endrick is likely to get some minutes on the pitch.

Wear and tear

The timing of this fixture poses a challenge for Madrid, as they have had less than 72 hours to recover from their physically and mentally draining clash against Atletico.

Ancelotti has two possible approaches—either rest the players who were most affected by the previous match or go all in, knowing that the team will not have another competitive game for the next two weeks.

One confirmed absence for Madrid is Ferland Mendy, who is sidelined due to injury. As a result, Fran Garcia will take his place at left-back.

Brahim Diaz will start against Villarreal. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Vinicius Jr, who appeared fatigued during the derby, did not take part in the latest training session, making him a strong candidate to be left out of the squad.

Meanwhile, Rodrygo and Jude Bellingham, who had slightly fresher legs against Atletico, are expected to be in the lineup.

The uncertainty surrounding Kylian Mbappe’s availability due to an ankle issue adds another layer of complexity to Ancelotti’s selection decisions.

Door’s opening

One thing that appears certain is that Brahim Diaz will be given a starting role, and Endrick will be given an opportunity to feature at some stage during the match.

While Endrick has found game time hard to come by, Brahim has been making an impact this season. The 25-year-old has registered six goals and seven assists in 38 appearances across all competitions, starting in 18 of those games.

Given the level of fatigue in the squad following the Madrid derby, Endrick is likely to receive more minutes than usual.

With Villarreal set to provide a difficult challenge, Madrid will need to find the right balance between resting key players and fielding a competitive lineup to secure a positive result.