Real Madrid predicted XI vs. Espanyol: Arda Guler and Luka Modric run the show again

After defeating Stuttgart 3-1 in the Champions League on Tuesday, Real Madrid will head back to LaLiga this weekend for a battle against Espanyol on Saturday night at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Nothing less than the full points will be expected for Real Madrid, and although they will be riding high after back-to-back wins over quality Spanish sides in Real Sociedad and Real Betis, Espanyol are stingy against the elite teams and shouldn’t be slept on.

Here is a look at the possible Real Madrid starting XI against Espanyol this weekend.

Defense: Thibaut Courtois, Ferland Mendy, Antonio Rudiger, Eder Militao, Dani Carvajal

The best back four remains the same. None of these four Real Madrid starters is going to be displaced any time soon, and the only real weak link is Ferland Mendy whenever he has the ball at his feet.

But Mendy isn’t going to get tested as much against Espanyol. The big key for these four men will be staying alert and avoiding any slip-ups that lead to shock counterattack goals for Espanyol.

Midfield: Arda Guler, Luka Modric, Fede Valverde

This is where things get the most interesting for Real Madrid, because Eduardo Camavinga is still injured and Aurelien Tchouameni played through some foot pain against Stuttgart.

Tchouameni is too important to Real Madrid, so he should get some rest against Espanyol with Arda Guler and Luka Modric getting opportunities to shine again in the starting XI.

We all know Modric can still do the job against anyone, and he was brilliant against Real Sociedad in Madrid’s 2-0 win. Guler played a starring role next to him, too, looking like a natural in a central midfield role as opposed to the more playmaking role he usually plays.

Guler should get all the starts he can get, because he is the future of Real Madrid. No Tchouameni means no stabilizer at the base of the midfield, but with his defensive intensity and brilliant dribbling in tight spaces, Modric can fulfill that obligation, especially against a lower-table side like Espanyol.

Attack: Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe, Rodrygo Goes

With Brahim Diaz injured, there is one less rotational option for Real Madrid. Endrick should get his first LaLiga start soon, but it may make more sense to wait until Tuesday against Deportivo Alaves to unleash the Brazilian phenom for 60+ minutes.

Arda Guler likely helps Real Madrid more as a midfielder than a right winger coming in for Rodrygo, so Carlo Ancelotti is probably going to keep feeding him minutes as an attacking No. 8 in the Julian Nagelsmann vein.