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According to the following tweet from As, Carlo Ancelotti has decided to start Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane in today's Copa Del Rey match against Atlético de Madrid.
Pepe, SUPLENTE hoy en el Calderón http://t.co/igXiusl6ir #CopaDelRey pic.twitter.com/QvYQ7nFAeh
— AS (@diarioas) January 7, 2015
Varane could certainly stand to see some more playing time, though his recent results against Atlético de Madrid have been mixed. True, he was colossal against them in the Champions League final but he was also at fault for a key Atleti goal earlier in the season. Meanwhile, Sergio Ramos is starting again on the heels of a moderate injury picked up last month so it's a bit puzzling that he's getting the starting nod over an in-form Pepe against a team as physical as Atleti.
Either way, expect Pepe to be a starter alongside likely Varane this weekend against Espanyol while Ramos will (hopefully) rest.
UPDATE: It would appear, according to reports out of Spain, that Pepe did not even make the trip to the Calderon. Expect Nacho to fill in should a centerback be needed off the bench. Stay tuned for more.
