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Wake up, folks! It's time to emerge from our caves, smell the air, and rejoice that another dreary international break has come and gone. Madrid will travel to the Ipurua to face Eibar, who have been friskier than anticipated this season, sitting in the dead middle of the table.
In case you have literally been living under a rock the last week, Luka Modrić's torn tendon has been dominating headlines. Ancelotti's been very careful about declaring who will be playing beside Toni Kroos in the midfield. Initially, he said he'll try Isco, then later in the week he hinted it may be Sami Khedira. Whoever gets the start against Eibar will probably be a regular in the lineup until Luka returns.
Despite leaking seven goals in their last four games, Eibar's defense has shown they can hold their own. Eibar held Barça goalless for an hour before opening up, and they've kept clean sheets against Real Sociedad, Elche, and Bilbao. Only once this season have Eibar been beaten by more than one goal (at Barcelona), so the newly-promoted side certainly know how to make opponents nervous.
On the other end of the pitch, Eibar lean on their veterans to produce. Mikel Arruabarrena, 31, leads the team with four goals, and Javi Lara and Saúl Berjón (both 28) lead the team with 2 assists apiece. Eibar aren't ones to run up the score, but if given a quality chance, Arruabarrena will finish it.
Yes, the Bernabéu is nearly 14 times the size of Eibar's stadium. Yes, Real Madrid have won the European Cup 10 times more than Eibar has been promoted to La Liga. And yes, Real Madrid should make quick work of them. But it's the first game off an international break, and these matches can be a little wonky. The players have been traveling. Luka Modrić will be in stands. This game has the potential to get weird. It has to be business as usual for Madrid as they prepare for life without Luka.
Match information:
Time converter at worldtimebuddy.com
TV Information: beIN Sports (USA), Sky Sports 5 (UK), Canal+ Liga, GolT (Spain), more
Prediction: Eibar 0-3 Real Madrid
Projected Lineup: Casillas; Marcelo, Ramos, Varane, Carvajal; Kroos, Isco, James; Bale, Benzema, Ronaldo