Real Madrid will be without the services of Karim Benzema and Ferland Mendy for Saturday's La Liga contest with Villarreal.

Both players missed out against Granada last time out due to hamstring problems, and the pair are battling to be available for next week's Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain.

Head coach Carlo Ancelotti will not risk either player, so there could be another start as a false nine for Isco, with Mariano Diaz also a doubt due to a muscular issue.

Both Casemiro and Lucas Vazquez should also be available for selection, having overcome illnesses, while there could be a change to the team's defensive unit, with Nacho potentially replacing Marcelo.

Eden Hazard, Luka Jovic and Gareth Bale are also battling to be involved in the final third of the field, but Vinicius Junior is back from suspension, while Marco Asensio is unlikely to lose his starting spot.

As a result, Rodrygo could drop down to the bench, but Ancelotti is unlikely to make changes to his first-choice midfield three, even with the clash against PSG coming quickly after this contest.

Dani Carvajal has recently spent time out through injury and COVID-19, but he came through the 90 minutes against Granada last weekend and will also start on Saturday.

Real Madrid possible starting lineup: Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Nacho, Alaba; Modric, Casemiro, Kroos; Asensio, Isco, Vinicius

Written by
Matt Law