Real Madrid predicted lineup vs Man Utd - Pre-season friendly

  • Real Madrid face Man Utd in Houston this week
  • Los Blancos beat Milan 3-2 in first game of US tour
  • Carlo Ancelotti expected to make changes for clash with Red Devils
Ancelotti has some decisions to make
Ancelotti has some decisions to make / Matthew Ashton - AMA/GettyImages
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The second stop on Real Madrid's pre-season tour of the US sees them play Manchester United in Houston.

Los Blancos had to fight back from a two-goal deficit to beat Milan in their first match on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean.

Their next friendly pits them against a Man Utd side that have won all three of their summer fixtures without conceding thus far.

Here's how Carlo Ancelotti could set his side out.


Real Madrid predicted lineup vs Man Utd (4-3-1-2)

Jude Bellingham
Jude Bellingham is off and running in Madrid colours / Matthew Ashton - AMA/GettyImages

GK: Thibaut Courtois - Backup goalkeeper Andriy Lunin pulled off some impressive saves against Milan, but number one Courtois is expected to make his return against Man Utd.

RB: Dani Carvajal - One of five remaining Real Madrid players that featured in their last competitive meeting with Man Utd - a 2-1 win in the 2017 UEFA Super Cup. Two further players - Raphael Varane and Casemiro - have switched sides.

CB: Eder Militao - Scored seven goals for Real Madrid last season. From centre-back. What's that all about?

CB: David Alaba - Likely to replace new club captain Nacho Fernandez in the starting lineup.

LB: Antonio Rudiger - Ancelotti's desire to play Alaba and Rudiger together often sees the latter shifted to left-back, as opposed to the former who has played left-back for much of his illustrious career. There's method in the madness, we're assured.

CM: Aurelien Tchouameni - Toni Kroos was given the nod at the base of Real Madrid's new-look midfield last time out, meaning Tchouameni is expected to come back in.

CM: Federico Valverde - The energy that Valverde provides is nearly irreplaceable and he's likely to retain his place.

CM: Luka Modric - It's going to be hard to pair veteran duo Modric and Kroos together in a diamond moving forward.

AM: Jude Bellingham - Ancelotti has stressed that he sees Bellingham as a marauding midfielder capable of arriving late into the box and scoring goals. This number ten role is his to lose.

CF: Rodrygo - Without a natural number nine of high quality (sorry, Joselu), Real Madrid are likely to play their wide forwards in more inverted roles this season.

CF: Vinicius Junior - Without Karim Benzema, Vinicius will be expected to shoulder more of the scoring load. 45 goals across the last two seasons should give Real Madrid fans reason to feel a bit more relaxed about the situation.


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