Given the thin margins in this year’s title race, Real Madrid must weigh the short-term gain against the long-term benefits from rest with every La Liga match from here on out.
As Los Blancos ready themselves to host Leganes on Saturday, Carlo Ancelotti will be tasked with balancing the fitness of each returning international against risking their fitness on the pitch.
Nearly every regular Real Madrid starter is also a full international, but the spotlight will be on those individuals who made two trans-Atlantic flights in the last week. Those would be Brazilian stars Rodrygo, Vinicius Jr., and Endrick who are fresh off a 4-1 humbling against defending World Cup champions Argentina just days ago.
Their status for a quick turnaround in Madrid will be assessed, knowing any rest Ancelotti affords them could mean the difference in the red-hot title race this season. Los Blancos sit second in the table, behind Barcelona only on goal difference as they are level on 60 points, although Barca hold a game in hand.
Any dropped points from here on out could be fatal to their title hopes, so Real Madrid must take every game seriously regardless of opponent. And of course, there is the small matter of a UEFA Champions League quarterfinal with Arsenal looming.
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Real Madrid vs. Leganes lineups, predicted starting 11, team news
In addition to long-term absentees Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao, Real Madrid are also without left-back Ferland Mendy, who suffered a hamstring injury in the recent Madrid derby and will be out for a few more weeks.
Fran Garcia has returned to training after recovering from a muscle injury, and Thibaut Courtois is reportedly fine after a muscle scare, but Dani Ceballos will likely need until the second or third week of April to make his way back onto the pitch.
Those returning from lengthy international trips — most notably Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo from Brazil — could be rested on the bench by Carlo Ancelotti to give them a break following a grueling week of travel and football. Yet with so few options, it’s hard to see who he turns to, especially since backup striker Endrick is also among this group.
Real Madrid predicted lineup (4-3-3, right to left): Courtois (GK) — Vazquez, Rudiger, Asencio, Garcia — Valverde, Bellingham, Tchouameni — B. Diaz, Mbappe, Guler
Injured: Carvajal (ACL), Militao (ACL), Mendy (hamstring), Ceballos (hamstring), Courtois (muscle, doubt)
Suspended: None
MORE: All the latest Real Madrid news | Latest La Liga top goal scorer list | Latest Champions League top goal scorer list
Midfielder Yvan Noupa came off injured in the 3-2 defeat to Real Betis just before the international break and will have to be assessed. However, striker Daniel Raba is expected to be fit for participation after also coming off in that same match with a concern.
Left-back duo Enric Franquesa and Borna Barisic are both out for the season with cruciate ligament injuries, leaving former Real Madrid youth player Javi Hernandez to man the position.
Leganes predicted lineup (4-1-4-1, right to left): Dmitrovic (GK) — Rosier, S. Gonzalez, Nastasic, J. Hernandez — Tapia — Cruz, Noupa, Cisse, Brasanac — Raba
Injured: Barisic (ACL), Franquesa (ACL), Noupa (muscle, doubt), Raba (knock, doubt)
Suspended: None
Real Madrid vs. Leganes live stream, TV channel
Here’s how to watch this La Liga match across selected areas of the world’s major regions:
| TV channel | Streaming | |
| USA | ESPN Deportes | Fubo USA, ESPN+ |
| Canada | — | TSN+ |
| UK | — | LaLigaTV, Premier Player |
| Australia | beIN Sports 3 | beIN Sports Connect |
| India | — | GXR World |
