Real Madrid predicted lineup vs Sevilla - La Liga
Real Madrid welcome Sevilla to the Santiago Bernabeu in the Spanish top flight on Saturday night.
Los Blancos sit atop the table with 28 points from a possible 30. Only once in the club's long, illustrious history have they ever made a better start to a La Liga season; in 1991 Madrid also had nine wins and a draw from their first ten games, but could boast a marginally better goal difference.
However, that year Johan Cruyff's Barcelona pipped Madrid to the title by one point on the final day of the campaign as the Merengues endured a trophy-less season.
Here's the XI Carlo Ancelotti may deploy in his continued bid to avoid a similar collapse.
1. Real Madrid XI (4-3-3)
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GK: Thibaut Courtois - After watching half a dozen matches from the sidelines, the world's best goalkeeper - officially - is poised to make his competitive return.
RB: Lucas Vazquez - Back in his days as a winger, Vazquez teed up Karim Benzema for a 93rd-minute equaliser against Sevilla in the 2016 UEFA Super Cup.
CB: Eder Militao - Since the start of last season, no outfield player has racked up more La Liga minutes for Real Madrid than Militao.
CB: Antonio Rudiger - "I used to act on my emotions a lot," Rudiger reflected in 2017, "and that could have cost me my career. But I got that under control. Now I never show fear.”
LB: David Alaba - Real Madrid became the first La Liga side to ever have three goals chalked off by VAR in the same match against Elche in midweek. However, the Spanish FA has reportedly apologised for ruling out Alaba's 'goal' during that match.
CM: Fede Valverde - In just 15 appearances this season, Valverde has scored six goals, as many as he racked up in his first 148 outings for Real Madrid (per Opta).
CM: Aurelien Tchouameni - The almost maniacally driven midfielder aims to “get up every day and be better than yesterday”.
CM: Luka Modric - His first ever defeat suffered as a Real Madrid player was against Sevilla a decade ago.
RW: Rodrygo - No player in Madrid's squad has been involved in more La Liga goals this season (eight) than Rodrygo (four goals, four assists).
ST: Karim Benzema - The first Frenchman to win the Ballon d'Or since Zinedine Zidane marked his first appearance since claiming the individual accolade with a goal, eventually, in midweek.
LW: Vinicius Junior - The Brazilian was one of four Real Madrid players to finish among the Ballon d'Or's top ten male players.