After defeating Real Betis 2-0 in a statement-making win in LaLiga, Real Madrid are preparing to face another top team in Spanish football when league play returns from the UEFA Nations League.
This coming Saturday, Real Madrid will travel to the Anoeta to take on perennial Champions League contenders Real Sociedad, and after fears they would have to dig deep within their bench in defense, it looks like the Merengues are getting a key boost against La Real’s high-flying attack.
According to a report from MARCA, star center back Eder Militao and defense-minded left back Ferland Mendy (one of the emergency options at center back, too) are both recovered and will be able to play against Real Sociedad.
That means Real Madrid are expected to be at full strength on Saturday night. Ferland Mendy will start at left back, Eder Militao and Antonio Rudiger will be at center back, and Dani Carvajal will start at right back.
However, there are rumblings Carvajal could get rest with Mendy and Militao available to strengthen the back line, meaning Carlo Ancelotti could risk veteran backup winger Lucas Vazquez starting at right back again.
Vazquez has been good at the position and should hold his own against Real Sociedad left winger Sheraldo Becker, though with Barcelona flying high and Real Madrid still reeling from dropped points in the table to Mallorca and Las Palmas, Carletto may not want to take risks with Carvajal being out in a big game at the Anoeta.
Real Madrid will be happy to hear that Militao and Mendy are available, as they are easily two of the best pure defensive players in Spanish football today.
The managing editor of The Trivela Effect, Kevin has 15 years of experience in digital media. He covered Real Madrid from 2019-2022 for The Real Champs as a site manager. His work has been featured in ESPN, Bleacher Report, Yahoo! Sports, NBC Sports, and other major outlets. You can contact him at the site’s official Twitter handle @TrivelaEffect or via the site’s official email thetrivelaeffect@gmail.com.